Lake Barlee Regeneration Project

Lake Barlee Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on Lake Barlee Station, situated in the Sandstone area in the southern rangelands of Western Australia. Registered in November 2018, the project spans an extensive 127,425.48 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests by facilitating natural regrowth from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. A standard requirement for this methodology is that the land must have been cleared of vegetation and had regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to project commencement. To achieve this regeneration, the project proponent manages the timing and extent of grazing to remove the pressures that prevent native flora from thriving.

The surrounding region is characterised by vast pastoral stations and mining operations, typical of the Great Western Woodlands and rangelands of Western Australia. The climate is arid to semi-arid, experiencing low and irregular rainfall. The typical soil types in the area range from red sandy earths and loams to clays associated with the surrounding mulga landscapes and salt lakes.

An interesting facet of this project is its successful integration with traditional pastoralism. The associated property, Lake Barlee Station, was sold in early 2023 for $2,000,000. It was explicitly marketed as a dual-income opportunity, combining a potential carrying capacity of 1,100 cattle units with the active carbon project (ERF124160) and its associated carbon abatement contract (CAC212701). In March 2024, the project’s proponents were formally updated from Terrence Stevens to Red Dirt Pastoral Pty Ltd as trustee for Mt Jackson Station Unit Trust.