Westerton Regeneration Project

The Westerton Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Stonehenge district of Central West Queensland. The property is situated roughly 60km northwest of the small settlement of Stonehenge and approximately 150km southwest of the major regional hub of Longreach. Registered in September 2017, the project covers a substantial area of 55,122 hectares, operating on land historically utilized for extensive cattle grazing.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which focuses on restoring native forest cover through changes in land management rather than active planting. Specifically, the project involves managing the timing and extent of grazing pressures to allow suppressed vegetation, such as native Gidgee (Acacia cambagei) and Mulga woodlands, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. By controlling livestock access, the project ensures that saplings can mature into permanent forest cover, thereby sequestering carbon.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with high summer temperatures and variable, often low, rainfall. The landscape typically features Mitchell grass downs and channel country, with soils predominantly composed of deep, cracking grey and brown clays (vertosols) and red earths in the rougher country. These environmental conditions are well-suited for the resilient acacia species targeted for regeneration.

This project is facilitated by Climate Friendly and the proponent is Wiltshire Cattle Pty Ltd. The sheer scale of the project area suggests it contributes significantly to landscape-level connectivity in the Channel Country bioregion.