Strathburn Station

Strathburn Station is a Savanna Fire Management project located in the heart of the Cape York Peninsula, approximately 129km north-west of Musgrave Roadhouse and 506km north-west of Mareeba in Tropical North Queensland. It was registered in December 2014 and covers a massive 246,564.30 ha, which equates to an area of roughly 50km by 50km.

Savanna fire management projects involve the strategic and planned burning of savanna areas during the cooler, early dry season. This early intervention purposefully reduces ground fuel loads, thereby mitigating the risk and severity of hot, unmanaged late dry season wildfires. To participate under this methodology, the project area must meet specific regional requirements, such as operating within recognized high or low rainfall zones; this particular project targets emission reductions in the high rainfall area.

The remote Cape York region is characterized by extensive traditional cattle grazing, pristine wilderness conservation, and carbon farming operations. The local environment falls under a high rainfall classification, typically receiving 1,100mm to 1,200mm annually. These intense monsoonal wet seasons feed into expansive ephemeral wetlands and major local waterways like the Holroyd, Pretender, and Edward River systems. Soils in the area are typically sandy and loamy earths that support native savanna grasses, which are essential for traditional fire management.

Beyond its carbon abatement activities, Strathburn Station is a highly biodiverse pastoral holding that breeds Brahman cattle and has historically been famous as a major safari destination for wild pig hunting. Interestingly, the Clean Energy Regulator accepted an Enforceable Undertaking from the project's original proponent, Country Carbon Pty Ltd, in May 2020 due to overarching compliance and oversight issues within the scheme. Following this regulatory action, the proponent for the project was varied to Strathburn Cape York Carbon Pty Ltd in December 2021, shifting direct management.