'Wivenhoe Land Restoration Pilot Project

Wivenhoe Land Restoration Pilot Project is an environmental planting project located around Lake Wivenhoe, approximately 80km northwest of Brisbane in South East Queensland. It was registered in December 2019 and covers 168.95 hectares across seven sites, following a variation to the project area in September 2020.

Environmental planting projects involve establishing permanent plantings of a mix of native tree species on land that was predominantly used for agriculture for at least five years prior to project commencement. To meet standard methodology requirements, these native species are planted at appropriate densities to reach a genuine forest cover.

The Lake Wivenhoe region features a sub-tropical climate that experiences moderate to high rainfall. Soils in the project area are typically highly productive alluvial soils and clay loams. The surrounding region has historically been heavily cleared and utilised for beef cattle grazing, while the immediate general land area acts as South East Queensland's primary water catchment.

This project was established by the Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority (Seqwater) in partnership with CO2 Australia. Over 150,000 native trees, including Queensland blue gums, ironbarks, and river she-oaks, have been planted on formerly cleared grazing land. It was primarily set up to act as a natural erosion buffer right on the edge of the water storage, improving the water quality entering Brisbane's largest drinking water supply by preventing pollutants from washing into the catchment. The project also successfully restores vital biodiversity corridors, acting as critical habitat for koalas and threatened bird species such as the glossy black cockatoo, squatter pigeon, and red goshawk. Notably, this pilot project holds the distinction of being Australia's first-ever certified Environmental Account by Accounting for Nature.