Wannon Water Emissions Offset Project

The Wannon Water Emissions Offset Project is a reforestation and afforestation project located across five properties in Central Victoria, rather than within the corporation's immediate service region of South West Victoria. Registered in July 2014, the project covers approximately 360 hectares. While the formal registration date is 2014, the planting activities commenced around 2009, making it a pioneering initiative in the sector.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation and Afforestation-1.2) Methodology Determination 2013. This methodology involves establishing permanent plantings on land that had been clear of forest for at least five years prior to the project's commencement. Specifically, this project utilizes Eucalyptus polybractea (Blue Mallee), a species renowned for its drought tolerance and high carbon sequestration rates. The trees are planted at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover, transitioning the land from agricultural use, typically grazing or cropping, to a permanent forest sink.

Central Victoria is characterized by a temperate to semi-arid climate with rainfall generally ranging between 400mm and 600mm annually, significantly lower than the coastal Wannon region. The soils in this area, often associated with the Goldfields region (e.g., near Bendigo or Wedderburn), are typically clay or loam, which provides an ideal habitat for Mallee species.

A notable aspect of this project is its status as a "landmark" initiative; Wannon Water claims it was the first carbon offset project of its kind in the Victorian water industry. The project is managed in partnership with CO2 Australia and generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) that Wannon Water uses to offset its own emissions and, more recently, trades with partners like Southern Rural Water to help them achieve their net-zero targets.