Larrabyrn Farm Forestry

Larrabyrn Farm Forestry is a plantation forestry project located approximately 12km south of Derrinallum and 20km north of Camperdown in western Victoria's Corangamite Shire. It was registered in December 2020 and initially covered an area of 2.57 hectares, though a variation in December 2022 added further areas to the project estate.

Plantation forestry projects under the ACCU scheme are designed to integrate carbon sequestration with commercial timber production. Unlike environmental plantings which permanently protect vegetation, this methodology allows for the establishment of new plantations or the conversion of existing short-rotation plantations to long-rotation, sequestering carbon in both the growing trees and the resulting harvested wood products.

The surrounding region is situated on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, a landscape traditionally dominated by broadacre grazing for sheep and cattle, as well as cropping operations. The area typically experiences moderate temperate rainfall, generally falling between 600mm and 700mm annually. Soils in this region are predominantly basalt-derived, often consisting of heavy grey or black cracking clays (Vertosols) and loams that are highly fertile but can be prone to waterlogging in the winter months.

A notable aspect of this project, operated by proponent Michael Carroll, is its operation on a relatively small scale compared to large corporate forestry estates. This highlights the accessibility of the carbon market for smaller landholders looking to integrate farm forestry into their existing operations. The project operates with a 25-year crediting period.