Watheroo (Revoked)

Watheroo (Revoked) is a reforestation project located approximately 15km northeast of the small township of Watheroo in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Registered in July 2015, the project covered a significant area of 765 hectares. The surrounding region is heavily defined by broadacre agriculture, primarily consisting of cereal cropping (wheat, barley) and sheep grazing. This project was situated within the Shire of Moora, an area known for its productive but ecologically fragmented agricultural landscapes.

The project operated under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM methodology. This method involves establishing permanent plantings of native mallee eucalypt species on land that has been clear of forest for at least five years. Mallee trees are multi-stemmed eucalypts particularly well-suited to the region; they are often planted to sequester carbon, reduce soil salinity, and provide windbreaks for livestock, all while integrated into active farming properties.

Environmentally, the Watheroo region experiences a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Annual rainfall averages between 350mm and 450mm, with the vast majority falling during the winter growing season. The local soils typically consist of the sandy loams and sand-over-clay profiles common to the West Australian sandplains. These conditions can be challenging for establishment, making drought-tolerant mallee species a strategic choice for long-term vegetation persistence.

The project was voluntarily revoked on September 18, 2017, under section 33 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011. Section 33 allows the Clean Energy Regulator to revoke a project's registration upon application by the proponent. The proponent, Carbon Positive Australia Ltd (formerly the Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund), is a registered charity that focuses on restoring degraded land. It is not uncommon for charitable organizations to transition projects out of the formal ACCU scheme to manage them purely for conservation or voluntary offsetting purposes, avoiding the high audit and administrative costs associated with generating tradeable carbon credits.