Yaloak Estate Environmental Plantings #1 Project (Revoked)

Yaloak Estate Environmental Plantings #1 Project (Revoked) was an environmental planting project located at the well-known Yaloak Estate in Ballan, Victoria, approximately 60 kilometers west of Melbourne. Registered in March 2015, the project encompassed a significant area of just over 2,009 hectares. The region is characterized by broadacre farming, specifically cropping and grazing (sheep and cattle), situated within the volcanic plains of western Victoria.

The project operated under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM methodology. This method involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree species on land that was historically cleared for agricultural use. The primary goal is to sequester carbon in the growing biomass. Standard requirements for such projects include planting species local to the area at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover (typically at least 200 stems per hectare) and maintaining the trees for a defined permanence period (usually 25 or 100 years).

Environmentally, the Ballan region falls within the High Rainfall Zone of Victoria. The landscape at Yaloak Estate is known for its heavy clay soils and sodic subsoils, which have historically presented challenges for crop yields and required specific agronomic management such as raised beds and subsoil manuring. The terrain is generally undulating, supporting both extensive grazing pastures and wind energy infrastructure.

A notable aspect of this project is its revocation in March 2022 under Section 30 of the CFI Rule, which indicates a voluntary revocation by the proponent. This timing correlates with the period following the high-profile listing of the Yaloak Estate for sale in 2019, where it was marketed as one of the largest landholdings near Melbourne, featuring a polo club, wind turbines, and extensive agricultural capacity. The revocation suggests that the carbon project may have been dissolved to clear the land title of carbon maintenance obligations for new ownership or to facilitate a change in land management strategy.