Stanbert Regeneration Project

Stanbert Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located on the Stanbert pastoral property, approximately 63km northeast of Bourke in western New South Wales. It was registered in August 2015 and covers 23,459.92ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects aim to establish permanent native forests through assisted regeneration. This methodology involves ceasing historical activities that continuously suppressed tree growth. For this specific project, operations take place on land that was previously cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was actively suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing. The proponents manage the timing and extent of livestock grazing, alongside the humane control of feral animals, to allow native trees to successfully regenerate from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers.

The Bourke region is heavily reliant on broadacre cattle and sheep grazing operations. The surrounding environment is classified as semi-arid, experiencing the low and highly variable rainfall typical of outback NSW. Soils in this area generally consist of red earths, clay loams, and sandy loams, which are suited primarily to pastoralism rather than intensive agriculture.

The project entered into a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC102218) in November 2015, which was successfully concluded in July 2026. In November 2016, a project variation was processed to formally remove certain land areas from the project boundaries. As an interesting administrative note, the Clean Energy Regulator accepted an Enforceable Undertaking from one of the project's participating co-agents, Climate Friendly Pty Ltd, between September 2016 and December 2017. This undertaking was a regulatory action aimed at improving the corporate participant's compliance tracking, record-keeping, and management of eligible interest holder consents across its portfolio. Additionally, the Stanbert Regeneration Project's geographical and carbon yield data has been cited in academic research evaluating woody cover fraction changes and regulatory compliance across Australian HIR projects.