Springwater Forest Carbon Project

Springwater Forest Carbon Project is a Reforestation and Afforestation project located at the Springwater property, approximately 46km east-northeast of Injune in the Maranoa region of Queensland. It was registered in July 2015 and covers an area of 7,721.02 hectares.

The project operates under the Reforestation and Afforestation-1.2 methodology. This methodology involves establishing permanent plantings of trees to create lasting forest cover on land that was previously cleared for agricultural purposes. Standard requirements dictate that the plantings must have the potential to achieve a minimum of 20% canopy cover and reach a height of at least two metres at maturity. Specifically, this project establishes permanent native plantings of Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) and Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata).

The broader Injune and Maranoa region is traditionally known for extensive cattle grazing and cropping, alongside significant modern natural gas extraction. Environmentally, the area experiences a semi-arid to subtropical climate, receiving an average annual rainfall of approximately 630 mm, with the majority falling during the summer months. The region's soils are predominantly comprised of Chromosols (texture-contrast soils), Kandosols, and Vertosols (cracking clays), which provide a nutrient-rich base for both native timber and agricultural pastures.

Interestingly, the project is run by major Australian energy producer Santos Limited, which became the sole participant on the project in April 2026 after previously partnering with Corporate Carbon Solutions. The Springwater property is heavily integrated into Santos's Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (GLNG) operations. As part of a unique environmental and agricultural initiative, Santos has utilized treated water extracted from its coal seam gas operations to drip-irrigate forage crops and millions of native trees across the Springwater and Fairview stations. This integrated approach allows the proponent to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) while responsibly recycling the water byproducts of their fossil fuel extraction operations.