Turpentine Carbon Project

Turpentine Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 35km northeast of Goondiwindi in Southern Queensland. It was registered in October 2015 and covers an area of 3,844.23 hectares.

Soil carbon sequestration projects under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology reward landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels through changes in agricultural land management. This specific method allows for a hybrid approach that utilises both physical soil sampling and modelled estimates to calculate carbon abatement, which helps reduce the high costs associated with traditional measurement-only methods.

The Goondiwindi region is a major agricultural hub well known for cattle grazing and broadacre cropping, including cotton and cereals. The area typically experiences a semi-arid to sub-tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of 500mm to 600mm. Soils in this specific location are generally comprised of grey clays and red loams, which are characteristic of the Brigalow Belt.

Operated by Archer Pastoral Pty Ltd and Corporate Carbon Solutions, the project aims to increase carbon in the soil by altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing, alongside re-establishing or rejuvenating pastures through seeding. Historically, historical reports indicate the land was previously severely overgrazed with significant bare ground. This prompted the proponents to shift toward holistic management practices, such as implementing high-density, time-controlled cell grazing to restore soil health.

A notable aspect of the Turpentine Carbon Project is its long operational history. It has transitioned through three different iterations of the soil carbon methodology (2014, 2018, and 2021) to reflect the evolving regulatory landscape. Additionally, it is the site of intensive eddy-current flux tower research involving the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and has been a focal point in recent academic discourse regarding the accuracy of ACCU measurements. The project also currently holds an active fixed delivery contract with the Commonwealth for 1,040,000 ACCUs.