Mountain View Carbon Project

Mountain View Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in Tintaldra within the Upper Murray region of Victoria, approximately 10km west of Corryong. It was registered in December 2020 and covers a project area of 129.20ha.

Soil carbon projects operating under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology involve implementing new or materially different agricultural management practices that build soil resilience and sequester carbon. Standard requirements of the methodology dictate that the increases in soil organic carbon stocks must be verified over time through a hybrid system of rigorous physical soil sampling and computer modelling.

The Upper Murray region features Victorian alpine valleys primarily used for productive grazing. The area is classified as a high-rainfall zone, typically receiving over 700mm of precipitation annually, and the soils generally consist of sandy to clay loams.

The project activities involve altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing to improve ground cover and soil health. It also includes rejuvenating pastures by transitioning from a monoculture of annual rye to diverse, multi-species fodder crops, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers. As part of Justin Costello’s broader 422-hectare farming operations, these innovative practices have proven highly successful, resulting in a 26% improvement in overall stocking rates. In June 2023, the project formally varied its methodology from the 2018 determination to the 2021 version to leverage more flexible measurement protocols and modelling capabilities. As a notable success story for the sector, the Mountain View Carbon Project achieved its first issuance of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) in late 2024, which the landholder intends to leverage to access premium carbon-neutral beef markets. Additionally, the project utilises AgriProve's "Tags for Tonnes" program, providing digital herd insights and data-driven management to facilitate ongoing farm improvements.