Crystalvale Station

Crystalvale Station is a Savanna Fire Management project located in the Cape York Peninsula, approximately 30km south-west of Coen in Far North Queensland. Registered in January 2018, the project encompasses a significant area of 89,788 hectares. The property is part of a larger aggregation of cattle stations, including Holroyd and Yarraden, which are managed for both sustainable beef production and conservation outcomes.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology involves the strategic implementation of cool, controlled burns during the early dry season (typically January to July). By burning early when vegetation creates less intense heat, the project aims to reduce the fuel load and prevent the spread of large, uncontrollable wildfires in the late dry season, thereby avoiding significant emissions of methane and nitrous oxide.

Situated in a high rainfall zone with a median monsoonal rainfall exceeding 1,150mm annually, the region supports dense savanna vegetation. The landscape is characterized by the Coen Inlier geology, featuring soils predominantly classified as Kandosols, red, yellow, and grey massive earths, along with sandy loams that support the native woodlands and riparian corridors.

Crystalvale Station has drawn attention for its integrated land management approach. In 2023, the property was acquired by Corporate Carbon (managed under the Umlilo Holdings entity) and has since been declared a Nature Refuge by the Queensland Government. This status formally protects its ecological value while allowing carbon farming and cattle grazing to coexist. The project also emphasizes "Healthy Country Planning," engaging Traditional Owners to identify and protect culturally significant sites within the station.