Norley Regeneration Project

The Norley Regeneration Project is a significant Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Norley Station, approximately 45 kilometers north of Thargomindah in South West Queensland. Registered in November 2017 by Usher Pastoral Company Pty Ltd, the project covers an expansive area of roughly 273,688 hectares within the Bulloo Shire. The region is characterized by its remoteness and is predominantly used for extensive cattle grazing, leveraging the vast rangelands of the Channel Country.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves implementing land management changes to facilitate the regrowth of native forests. Unlike tree planting projects, HIR relies on the regeneration of in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers, which have been historically suppressed by grazing or mechanical clearing. To meet the methodology's requirements, the proponent must manage the timing and extent of grazing and cease any mechanical destruction of regrowth, aiming to achieve a native forest cover with at least 20% canopy density.

Environmentally, the Thargomindah region is classified as semi-arid to arid, featuring hot summers and cool, dry winters. The landscape typically consists of Mulga lands and Mitchell grass downs, often interspersed with the claypans and floodplains associated with the Bulloo River system. The soils in this area are generally red earths and heavy clays, which respond vigorously to the erratic rainfall events typical of the Australian outback.

Notably, Usher Pastoral Company manages a substantial portfolio of carbon projects in the region, including the nearby Mount Margaret and Orient Regeneration Projects, which together cover over one million hectares. The Norley project successfully fulfilled a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC297948) with the Australian Government in October 2020, delivering over 41,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).