Springvale Regeneration Project (Revoked)

Springvale Regeneration Project (Revoked) is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Springvale Station, approximately 15km south of the township of Enngonia and 80km north of Bourke in outback New South Wales. The project was registered in September 2015 and covered a significant area of 20,669 hectares.

The project operated under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which involves regenerating permanent native forest on land where vegetation has been suppressed for at least 10 years. Standard activities for this method include managing the timing and extent of grazing (by livestock and feral animals) and ceasing mechanical clearing to allow native species, such as Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Poplar Box, to regenerate.

The region is part of the Mulga Lands bioregion, characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 300-400mm. The landscape typically features red earth and clay soils supporting shrublands and open woodlands, primarily used for sheep and cattle grazing.

An interesting note regarding this project is its revocation status. It was voluntarily revoked on January 31, 2018, under section 30 of the CFI Rule. Public records indicate a subsequent project registration (ERF111332) for "Springvale" with a 25-year permanence period, suggesting the revocation of the original 100-year project (ERF101766) may have been a strategic administrative move to adjust the permanence commitment, a common practice for landholders seeking greater flexibility. The proponents, Andrew and Lorraine Lewis, are long-term pastoralists in the Bourke/Enngonia district.