Nooralaba Station Forest Regeneration Project

Nooralaba Station Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 85km north-west of Cunnamulla in the Paroo Shire of South West Queensland. It was registered in November 2016 and covers 21,423.76ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve regenerating native forests by changing land management practices to achieve a permanent forest cover, with standard methodology requiring the regenerated trees to typically reach at least two metres in height and establish a 20% canopy cover. This specific project establishes permanent native forests through the humane management of feral animals, reducing grazing pressure to allow for assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, on land where regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years.

The Cunnamulla region is predominantly used for cattle and sheep grazing, opal mining, and increasingly, carbon farming. Situated in a hot, semi-arid climate, the area experiences low average annual rainfall of approximately 360mm to 375mm. The landscape is characterised by mulga and Mitchell grass downs, and local soils generally consist of red sandy earths, sandy loams, and occasional clay plains that are highly susceptible to prolonged drought.

The property has an interesting recent history, as the original owners, Anthony and Lynette Grabbe, were involved in a 2021 Queensland Land Court dispute where they unsuccessfully attempted to prevent opal fossickers from accessing a 16ha patch of the station to protect their rehabilitation efforts. Following this, the property was sold in late 2021 to Nunyara Pty Ltd, who sought the station specifically for its carbon income potential and breeder country, resulting in a change of the project proponents. Corporate entities such as AGL Energy have since purchased and surrendered Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated by this regeneration project.