Dutson Downs Carbon Sequestration Project

Dutson Downs Carbon Sequestration Project is an environmental planting project located at Dutson Downs, approximately 25km south-east of Sale in the Gippsland region of Victoria. It was registered in January 2019 and covers 470.10 hectares.

Environmental planting projects involve establishing permanent plantings of a mix of native tree species on land that was predominantly used for agricultural purposes. These projects require planting locally native trees at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover, which typically means a stocking density of at least 200 stems per hectare to achieve a minimum 20% crown cover and 2 metres in height.

The region surrounding Sale and Dutson Downs is known for grazing, dairy farming, and broad-acre agriculture. The area is classified as having moderate rainfall, receiving an annual average of roughly 590mm to 650mm. The soils at the Dutson Downs property are largely characterized as deep coastal sandy soils and podosols with accumulations of organic materials.

This project was established by the Central Gippsland Region Water Corporation (Gippsland Water) to help offset carbon emissions associated with its energy-intensive wastewater treatment operations. The proponent has planted over 200,000 native plants across the Dutson Downs property, which also serves as a major organics and biosolids recycling facility. The regenerating bushland provides a critical sanctuary for endangered local flora and fauna and supports the water corporation's ambitious goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2030.