Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #15

Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #15 is an Avoided Clearing of Native Regrowth project located approximately 15km west of Mount Perry in the North Burnett region of Queensland. It was registered in November 2020 and covers an area of 1,341.27 hectares.

The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Avoided Clearing of Native Regrowth) Methodology Determination 2015 is designed to protect native forests on land that has historically been subjected to repeated clearing for agricultural purposes, such as grazing or cropping. To earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), landholders commit to retaining native regrowth that they otherwise have the legal right to clear.

The North Burnett area is well-known for its extensive beef cattle grazing operations and agriculture. The region experiences a sub-tropical climate with moderate, summer-dominant rainfall ranging from 600mm to 900mm annually. Local soil types typically consist of loamy alluvials, red earths, and sandy loams.

This project aims to avoid carbon emissions by ensuring that native forest is not cleared. Owned by the Dempsey family in partnership with project proponent Terra Carbon Pty Limited (a subsidiary of GreenCollar), the property has stepped away from its historical clearing regime to protect the forest for a 25-year permanence period. Retaining this forest provides crucial habitat for priority species such as koalas, creates shade for livestock, and helps control erosion, significantly reducing sediment runoff into the nearby Great Barrier Reef catchment. The additional income stream generated from carbon credits has successfully supported the Dempsey family in drought-proofing their agricultural enterprise by funding the installation of four bores and two dams.

Additionally, on 26 July 2021, a variation was made to the project where certain originally listed areas were removed from the project boundary.