Big Creek Regeneration Project

Big Creek Regeneration Project is a large-scale Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Quilpie Shire of southwest Queensland, approximately 100km northwest of Cunnamulla. Registered in September 2019, the project encompasses a significant area of roughly 61,498 hectares.

The project operates within the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area characterized by semi-arid conditions and extensive grazing properties. The landscape is dominated by flat to undulating plains with red earth and sandy loam soils, supporting vegetation types such as Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Eucalypt woodlands. Rainfall in this region is low and highly variable, typically averaging around 300mm annually, which makes land management critical for vegetation recovery.

As a Human-Induced Regeneration project, the methodology does not involve planting new trees. Instead, it focuses on regenerating native forest from existing soil seed banks and rootstock (lignotubers) by changing land management practices. The proponents, Elizabeth and Robert Morris, working with Climate Friendly Pty Ltd, implement activities such as controlling feral animals (likely goats and pigs) and managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing. These changes reduce the suppression of regrowth, allowing native vegetation to recover and reach forest maturity.