Catchment Conservation Alliance - Southern Rivers Initiative Site #3

Catchment Conservation Alliance - Southern Rivers Initiative Site #3 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Aldville Station, approximately 120km north-west of Cunnamulla in south-western Queensland. It was registered in March 2017 and covers 32,633.57ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve regenerating native forests by changing land management practices. This project specifically establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources (including rootstock and lignotubers) on land that was previously cleared and where regrowth had been suppressed for at least 10 years. Standard project activities implemented here include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as the humane management of feral animals to reduce overall grazing pressure and allow the native forest canopy to naturally recover.

The Cunnamulla and broader Paroo Shire region is primarily known for pastoral operations, mainly broadacre cattle and sheep grazing. The local environment is characterised by a semi-arid climate with low, variable rainfall. Soils in this Mulga Lands bioregion are generally sandy loams, red earths, and alluvial clays along the river channels.

The project is driven by proponent Terra Carbon Pty Limited, a GreenCollar entity, and operates on the Leishman family property. Michelle and Jock Leishman purchased Aldville after it had been heavily degraded by historical overstocking practices. The carbon project was set up to help the country recover while providing a stable, diverse income stream that isn't subject to the same severe climatic pressures as livestock farming, helping the property build resilience against frequent droughts. Carbon income has been actively reinvested into farm infrastructure, and local biodiversity has thrived since the project's inception, with notable increases in native fauna including budgies, brolgas, mulga parrots, emus, goannas, and pythons.