BonnieBrae

BonnieBrae is a soil carbon project located near Marnoo in the Northern Grampians region, roughly 60km north of the major town of Stawell in Victoria. It was registered in August 2020 and covers a project area of 376.52 hectares. The project aims to increase carbon in the soil of the agricultural system by applying nutrients to the land, rejuvenating pastures, and changing grazing patterns.

The project falls under the Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems 2018 methodology. This method involves implementing new or materially altered land management activities to build soil carbon, coupled with rigorous baseline and subsequent soil sampling to measure the exact increase in soil organic carbon over time. Standard requirements for BonnieBrae include altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing, applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to address material deficiencies, and establishing permanent pasture where there was previously cropland or bare fallow.

The Wimmera and Northern Grampians region is known for its dryland agriculture, primarily broadacre cropping, sheep, and cattle grazing. The environment is considered to have moderate to low rainfall, typically classified as semi-arid, receiving around 400-500mm annually. Soils in this agricultural zone generally consist of red-brown earths, sandy loams, and heavier cracking clays.

Spearheaded by proponent Prue McAllister and project agent Robert (Deane) Belfield, BonnieBrae operates with a nominated permanence period of 25 years. By shifting agricultural practices to prioritize pasture maintenance and targeted nutrient application, the project demonstrates how traditional Victorian grazing lands can be optimized for both sustained agricultural productivity and verifiable environmental benefits.