York Downs Station

York Downs Station is a Savanna Fire Management project located on the Cape York Peninsula, near the mining town of Weipa in Far North Queensland. It was registered in July 2015 and spans an extensive 129,384 hectares.

Savanna fire management projects involve the strategic and planned 'mosaic' burning of savanna areas during the early dry season. By deliberately reducing the fuel load early in the year, this methodology mitigates the risk, size, and intensity of destructive, late dry-season wildfires, which ultimately lowers overall greenhouse gas emissions and protects local ecosystems.

The Cape York region is defined by its tropical, high-rainfall monsoonal climate. The local environment largely consists of woodland savannas and grassy plains, with soils typically ranging from lateritic red earths to sandy loams and clays. The dominant land use in the surrounding area includes extensive pastoral cattle grazing and large-scale bauxite mining operations.

Historically established as a cattle property in the late 19th century, York Downs Station currently manages a breeding herd of Brahman cattle. The carbon project has provided the property managers with additional income to invest in significant infrastructure upgrades, including heavy machinery for establishing fire breaks and a solar power system to replace diesel generators. Improved fire management practices have also reportedly bolstered local biodiversity, providing a safer habitat for native fauna such as echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies, and reptiles. Administratively, the project has undergone several changes, including a 2017 methodology update and a 2023 participant name variation from Country Carbon Pty Ltd to Terra Carbon Pty Limited. Additionally, the Clean Energy Regulator records note a 2020 enforceable undertaking involving the previous project proponent.