WeAct AKD 001 Mount Lonarch (Revoked)

WeAct AKD 001 Mount Lonarch (Revoked) is a plantation forestry project located in the Pyrenees Shire of Victoria, approximately 20km northeast of the town of Avoca and 65km northwest of the regional city of Ballarat. Registered in May 2019, the project covers an area of roughly 107 hectares. The site is situated within the Central Victorian Uplands, a region traditionally utilised for sheep and cattle grazing, viticulture, and forestry operations.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2017. Specifically, it engaged in the conversion of a short-rotation plantation to a long-rotation plantation. This activity typically involves transitioning from growing trees for short-term harvest products like pulp and woodchip (harvested every 10–15 years) to growing trees for long-term structural timber (harvested after 25+ years). This extension allows for greater carbon sequestration in the biomass of the trees and stores carbon for longer periods in the resulting wood products.

Environmentally, the Mount Lonarch area experiences a temperate climate with an average annual rainfall between 600mm and 750mm. The local terrain consists of sedimentary rises and low hills, with soils typically classified as texture-contrast soils (Chromosols and Sodosols), featuring loam or clay-loam topsoils overlying heavier clay subsoils. These conditions are well-suited to Pinus radiata (radiata pine) forestry, which is common in the area.

A notable aspect of this project is its revocation status. On May 19, 2022, the project was revoked under section 30 of the CFI Act following a restructure under section 57. In regulatory terms, a section 57 restructure generally indicates the "transmission" or transfer of the project to a new proponent or legal entity. The project name "AKD" likely refers to Associated Kiln Driers (AKD Softwoods), a major Australian integrated forestry and timber processing company, suggesting the project was established on AKD-owned land or in partnership with them before the administrative transfer occurred.