WilcoSands

WilcoSands is a soil carbon sequestration project located in Clydebank, approximately 15km northeast of Sale in the Gippsland region of Victoria. Registered in December 2020, the project covers a 530-hectare area situated within the Wellington Shire. The region is predominantly characterized by agricultural land use, specifically dairy farming and grazing, supported by the area's proximity to the Gippsland Lakes system.

The project operates under the 2018 Soil Carbon methodology (Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems). This methodology rewards landholders for increasing the amount of organic carbon stored in their soil through changes in land management. Standard requirements involve establishing a baseline of soil carbon through physical sampling, implementing new management activities, such as altering grazing patterns, irrigation, or fertilizer application, and then conducting subsequent sampling rounds to quantify the sequestered carbon.

The environment in the Clydebank region typically experiences a temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 600mm, though this can be highly variable. The project name "WilcoSands" and the specific activity of applying gypsum to remediate sodic or magnesic soils suggest the presence of light, sandy, or dispersible soils which can struggle with structure and water retention. The project activities focus on correcting these material deficiencies using synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers and gypsum to improve soil health and carbon-holding capacity.

Interesting context regarding this project includes its connection to "Wilandra Farms," an organic dairy operation owned by the proponent Sandra Jefford and her husband Wilco Droppert. The farm is well-regarded for its integration of renewable energy, utilising solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines to reduce its environmental footprint. The project's name appears to be a nod to the owner (Wilco) and the specific soil challenges (Sands) they are addressing to boost productivity and carbon sequestration.