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. To meet standard methodology requirements, the regenerated trees must typically reach at least two metres in height and establish a 20% canopy cover.

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.

This specific project is focused on the humane management of feral animals. By reducing grazing pressure, the project allows for assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers. This occurs on land that was previously cleared of vegetation and where regrowth had been suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing.

The property has an interesting recent history. Originally owned by Anthony and Lynette Grabbe, the couple was involved in a 2021 Queensland Land Court dispute where they unsuccessfully attempted to prevent opal fossickers from accessing a 16ha patch of the station, arguing the mining would interfere with their efforts to rehabilitate the drought-ravaged landscape. The Grabbes subsequently sold Nooralaba in late 2021 for approximately $2.5 to $2.67 million to Nunyara Pty Ltd, who specifically sought the property for its carbon income potential and breeder country, resulting in the change of project proponents.