Moombidary Forest Regeneration Project

Moombidary Forest Regeneration Project is a significant Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on Moombidary Station, approximately 55km west of Hungerford and 115km south of Thargamindah in south-western Queensland. Registered in August 2015, the project covers a vast area of over 153,000 hectares near the New South Wales border. The region is situated within the Bulloo Shire, an area traditionally dominated by cattle grazing and pastoral leases.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which involves changing land management practices to allow the regeneration of native forests. In this specific context, the project focuses on regenerating Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bloodwood, and Beefwood woodlands that were historically suppressed by livestock grazing and mechanical clearing. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the project must demonstrate that these management changes, such as controlling grazing pressure and ceasing mechanical clearing, facilitate the return of native vegetation to a "forest cover" status, defined as achieving at least 20% canopy cover at a height of 2 metres.

Environmentally, the Moombidary area is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate with highly variable rainfall. The landscape typically consists of red earth soils and clay pans capable of supporting resilient native vegetation like Mulga, which is vital for carbon sequestration in these rangelands. The property relies heavily on the Great Artesian Basin and local water systems such as the Cuttaburra Creek for water security.

Beyond carbon sequestration, the project has notable social and cultural dimensions. It involves a collaboration between the proponent, Weemabah Pty Ltd (managed by fifth-generation farmer George Mack), and the Kullilli and Budjiti Aboriginal Corporations. This partnership facilitates Traditional Owners' access to country for cultural practices, including the establishment of bush tucker gardens. Additionally, the proponent has been a vocal advocate for protecting the Great Artesian Basin, publicly opposing carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives that propose pumping waste CO2 into the aquifer, citing risks to the region's water security.