Waverley Downs Regeneration Project

Waverley Downs Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 30-40km north-west of Wanaaring, and around 230km west of Bourke in far western New South Wales. It was registered in August 2015 and covers 51,255.30 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve regenerating native forest by changing land management practices that previously suppressed tree growth. This specific project relies on the cessation of mechanical or chemical destruction of regrowth, as well as managing the timing and the extent of livestock grazing. The objective is to establish permanent even-aged native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, on land where vegetation was cleared and regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement.

The Wanaaring region is characterised by a hot, semi-arid climate with low average annual rainfall, typically around 270mm. The area's soils generally consist of red earths, sandy loams, and claypans, transitioning to more fertile grey soils along creek floodouts. Land use in this remote region is dominated by broadacre pastoral operations, primarily cattle and sheep grazing.

Waverley Downs itself has a history as a pastoral station and historically operated the Waverley Downs Merino Stud, which was founded in 1985 and bred fine and superfine merino and poll merino rams. The carbon project is managed by proponent David Charles Keane, with Climate Friendly Pty Ltd acting as the project agent. The project was contracted under the Emissions Reduction Fund in November 2015 (Contract CAC102223), which was subsequently completed in September 2026. The project varied its method to Compilation No. 3 of the HIR methodology in July 2023.