Prosper Carbon Project

The Prosper Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the rural locality of Laharum, approximately 30km south of the regional city of Horsham in Victoria. Registered in December 2017, the project covers a 115-hectare area situated in the productive foothills of the Grampians National Park (Gariwerd). The region is traditionally known for mixed farming, particularly sheep grazing for fine wool production and cropping, benefiting from the scenic and climatic influence of the nearby ranges.

Operating under the 2021 Soil Carbon "Measurement and Models" methodology, the project aims to build soil organic carbon stocks by modifying land management practices. Key activities include correcting material nutrient deficiencies through synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizer application and rejuvenating pastures via seeding or pasture cropping. Originally registered under the 2014 Grazing Systems method, the project transferred to the newer 2021 determination, which allows for a hybrid approach using both physical soil sampling and modelled estimates to calculate carbon credits (ACCUs).

The environmental context of the site is characterized by the distinct transition from the Wimmera plains to the Grampians sandstone ranges. Rainfall in this foothill zone is generally higher than the northern plains, typically averaging between 500mm and 600mm annually, which supports reliable pasture growth. The local soils are predominantly duplex, consisting of sandy or silty loams overlying varying clay subsoils, a profile that can be highly responsive to improved soil stewardship and carbon farming interventions.