Leonard Springs Carbon Project (Revoked)

Leonard Springs Carbon Project (Revoked) is an agricultural soil carbon project located in the South Gippsland region of Victoria, approximately 150km southeast of Melbourne. It was registered in March 2017 and covers a project area of 250.02 hectares.

Sequestering carbon in soils in grazing systems projects involve implementing new agricultural management practices designed to increase the amount of organic carbon stored within the soil profile. Standard requirements for this methodology include establishing a baseline carbon level, adopting eligible land management activities (such as pasture rejuvenation or altered grazing patterns), and undergoing rigorous direct soil sampling or modelling to track carbon sequestration over the crediting period.

The South Gippsland area is widely recognized for its highly productive agricultural lands, with regional land use predominantly focused on dairy, beef, and sheep grazing. The local environment falls under a high rainfall classification, typically receiving well over 700mm annually. The region features a variety of soil types, including brown sodosols, clay loams, and sandy podsols, which are exceptionally well-suited for sustaining intense pasture growth.

The primary activity for this project was rejuvenating pastures to increase carbon in the grazing system. Notably, the project utilized "Soilkee," an innovative Australian farming technology specifically designed for pasture cropping. The Soilkee system mechanically improves rainfall infiltration while oversowing existing pastures with a diverse mixture of cover crops, such as oats, peas, tillage radish, and clovers. This technique aimed to provide high-quality stock feed while fixing nitrogen and enhancing soil carbon storage. Managed by the proponent Corporate Carbon Solutions Pty Ltd, the project initially secured a carbon abatement contract (CAC695911) during the April 2017 ERF auction for 375,000 ACCUs. However, the contract ultimately lapsed in July 2022 with zero abatement volume sold to the Commonwealth, and the project was officially revoked under Section 30 of the CFI Rule on August 23, 2024.