Bally Castle Regeneration Project

Bally Castle Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 72km west of Bourke in the Bourke local government area of New South Wales. It was registered in July 2015 and covers an expansive area of 24,349.27 ha. Shortly after registration, the project underwent a variation in August 2015 to amend the boundaries of the listed areas.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects focus on establishing permanent, even-aged native forests by altering land management practices. This methodology requires the landowner to allow previously cleared or degraded native vegetation to naturally regrow by controlling suppressive threats, rather than through direct seeding or planting.

The Bourke region is characterised by a semi-arid climate with a low average annual rainfall of approximately 350mm. The soils in this part of western New South Wales are predominantly red earth, sandy loams, and clays. The overarching land use in this environment is pastoralism, primarily consisting of extensive sheep and cattle grazing operations.

This particular project aims to establish permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including resilient rootstock and lignotubers. The chosen land was previously cleared of vegetation and regrowth had been suppressed for at least 10 years before the project commenced. To facilitate successful regrowth, the proponent, Richard Andrew Nielsen, is actively managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and undertaking the humane management of feral animals. Additionally, the project is backed by a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC102065) which committed a fixed delivery of carbon abatement to the Commonwealth.