Crystalvale Station

Crystalvale Station is a savanna fire management carbon project located on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, approximately 40km southwest of Coen. It was registered in January 2018 and originally covered 89,788.49 hectares, although the project area was subsequently subdivided in April 2026 under section 23 of the CFI Rule, and further divided under section 77A of the CFI Act in June 2026.

Savanna fire management projects involve the strategic, planned burning of savanna areas during the early dry season. This methodology requires establishing a patchy mosaic of burnt and unburnt land to reduce the available fuel load. This practice significantly lowers the risk of catastrophic, high-intensity wildfires later in the dry season, thereby preventing large quantities of greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, from being emitted into the atmosphere.

The Cape York region is traditionally utilized for extensive cattle grazing and, increasingly, large-scale ecological conservation. The project area falls within a high rainfall climate classification, driven by highly seasonal monsoonal conditions. The region's environmental profile features diverse terrain, including river and creek frontages defined by black soil plains, which transition into mixed loams and sandy forest soils across the surrounding ridges and hills.

In addition to carbon abatement, this project offers substantial ecological and cultural co-benefits. In 2024, Crystalvale Station was officially declared a Nature Refuge by the Queensland Government. It connects with the neighboring Holroyd and Yarraden nature refuges to form a continuous 500,000-hectare ecological corridor, protecting habitats for threatened species such as the Cape York Rock Wallaby, Red Goshawk, and Cooktown Orchid. Furthermore, the project utilizes Traditional Owner-informed fire management practices to ensure the best possible environmental outcomes. The property also continues to support sustainable cattle operations alongside its carbon farming efforts. In November 2024, the project proponent was changed from Country Carbon Pty. Ltd. to Umlilo Holdings Pty Ltd as trustee for CC Stage 3 Agricultural Trust.