Bally Castle Regeneration Project

Bally Castle Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 80km west-south-west of Bourke in NSW. It was registered in July 2015 and covers 24,349.27 ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent even-aged native forests by encouraging natural regrowth from in-situ seed sources such as rootstock and lignotubers. This methodology requires proponents to manage or remove threats that suppress natural regrowth so the land can recover on its own. In this project, the native forest is being regenerated by strictly managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as humanely managing feral animals.

The Bourke region is well known for its broadacre pastoral operations, including sheep and cattle grazing, alongside some irrigated cropping like cotton. The area experiences a semi-arid, low rainfall climate, typically averaging under 400mm of rain annually. Soils in this north-western region generally consist of red earths (Kandosols and Chromosols), cracking clays (Vertosols), and naturally hardsetting hardpan soils.

Notably, this project takes place on land that had been previously cleared of vegetation and where natural regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing. Additionally, a formal variation to the project area was recorded shortly after its registration in August 2015, and the project is subject to a 100-year permanence period.