Matilda Carbon Project (Revoked)

The Matilda Carbon Project (Revoked) was a soil carbon sequestration initiative located in the Western District of Victoria, approximately 20 kilometers west of Colac and north of the Princes Highway near Pirron Yallock. Registered in February 2018, the project covered a land area of 391.5 hectares. However, as of December 12, 2024, the project was revoked under Section 30 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015, which typically indicates a voluntary cancellation requested by the project proponent, potentially due to a change in land management strategy or a transition to a different framework.

The project operated under the Sequestering Carbon in Soils in Grazing Systems methodology (2014). This method allows landholders to earn carbon credits by adopting new agricultural practices, such as altering stocking densities, improving fertilizer application, or rejuvenating pastures, that increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. Projects of this type require rigorous baseline soil sampling and subsequent rounds of measurement to quantify the net increase in soil organic carbon stocks over time.

Situated in the Colac Otway region, the project area lies within a high-rainfall zone known for its fertile volcanic plains. The local environment is characterized by heavy grey or black basalt-derived clay soils, which are highly productive but can be prone to waterlogging in winter. The region is predominantly used for intensive grazing, including dairy and beef cattle farming, leveraging the reliable climate and rich soil profile to support high pasture growth rates.

The project was managed by Corporate Carbon Solutions, a prominent Australian carbon project aggregator. While the specific reasons for the revocation are not publicly detailed, it is common for older projects under the 2014 determination to be reviewed or restructured as newer, more flexible methodologies (such as the 2021 Soil Carbon method) become available.