Curraghmore and Spring Hill Station

Curraghmore and Spring Hill Station is a Savanna Fire Management project located approximately 17km west of Mount Carbine and roughly 130km northwest of Cairns in Far North Queensland. Registered in February 2016, the project covers a substantial area of 105,813 hectares. The properties, Curraghmore Station and Spring Hill Station, are situated within the Mareeba Shire Council area and are primarily utilized for cattle grazing. The region is characterized by a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, typically transitioning between high and low rainfall zones (around the 600mm–1000mm annual range). The landscape features open eucalypt woodlands and grasslands supported by soils that range from sandy loams to red earths.

The project operates under the Carbon Farming Initiative, Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (specifically methane and nitrous oxide) by shifting the fire regime from high-intensity late dry season (LDS) wildfires to lower-intensity, planned early dry season (EDS) burns. By strategically igniting cool fires early in the dry season, the project creates firebreaks and reduces the fuel load, thereby preventing the rampant spread of hot, destructive fires later in the year.

Curraghmore Station has diversified its land use beyond traditional grazing and carbon farming to include tourism, offering private campsites and nature experiences. The project proponent, Country Carbon Pty. Ltd., is a well-known developer in the sector. Notably, in May 2020, the Clean Energy Regulator accepted an Enforceable Undertaking from Country Carbon Pty Ltd to improve its governance and compliance systems, ensuring the rigorous application of methodology requirements across its portfolio.