Smith Carbon Project

The Smith Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located at "Belhaven Brook Farm" in Glenarbon, approximately 50km east of the major regional hub of Goondiwindi in southern Queensland. Registered in August 2020, the project covers a 505-hectare area within the Border Rivers region. The land is owned and operated by Sophie and Adrian McInnerney, who purchased the property in 2019 during severe drought conditions.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method involves establishing a baseline of soil carbon through physical sampling and then implementing management changes to increase those levels over time. The project transitioned to this method from the 2018 measurement-based determination, likely to utilize hybrid modelling to streamline credit issuance. Specific activities on the farm include the introduction of multi-species pastures (including legumes and brassicas) and a shift to time-controlled rotational grazing to improve ground cover and water retention.

Environmentally, the region is situated in a semi-arid to subtropical climate zone with an average annual rainfall of approximately 630mm. While the broader Yelarbon area is known for difficult sodic clay soils (often referred to as the "Yelarbon Desert"), this specific project site is reported to feature light sandy soils along the Macintyre Brook. The land use is primarily sheep grazing, specifically running Australian White ewes.

Notable achievements for this project include generating its first tranche of 1,362 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) in October 2023. It was also the third project to undergo a "Carbon Intensity Assessment" by the proponent, Agriprove, which certified the operation as "beyond net zero," meaning the farm sequesters more carbon than it emits. The owners leverage this environmental credential for their direct-to-consumer meat brand, Macintyre Brook Lamb.