Victo and Murrumbah Station Human-Induced Regeneration Project (Revoked)

Victo and Murrumbah Station Human-Induced Regeneration Project (Revoked) is a human-induced regeneration project located on Victo Station, approximately 50km north of Cunnamulla and 150km south of Charleville in south-west Queensland. It was registered in March 2017 and originally covered a project area of 35,102 hectares.

Human-induced regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. This is typically achieved by ceasing the mechanical or chemical destruction of vegetation and stopping the suppression of regrowth (such as overgrazing) on land where regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years. To meet standard methodology requirements, the regenerated forest must have the potential to reach a minimum of 2 metres in height and provide at least 20% crown canopy cover.

The Cunnamulla region is predominantly used for various livestock operations, including cattle breeding, backgrounding, wool, and broad-scale goat production. The environment is classified as semi-arid with historically low rainfall. Soils across the project area are a diverse mix, primarily consisting of self-cracking clay soils that support Mitchell grass and buffel on the open plains, alongside soft mulga country featuring red loam soils interspersed with box flats.

Interestingly, the underlying properties were purchased by proponent Michael Lennon and Evie Sarragosi in 2016 before being set up for carbon farming. The property is fully exclusion-fenced to manage pests and grazing pressures, and is reliably watered by six capped flowing bores drawing from the Great Artesian Basin. The project was contracted to the government to deliver carbon abatement in April 2017, but the 166,722-unit carbon abatement contract lapsed and was terminated in May 2019 without any ACCUs being delivered. The project was officially revoked under Section 30 of the CFI Rule in January 2020.