Woolibar Station

Woolibar Station is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 35 to 45 kilometres south-southeast of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia. Registered in September 2021, the project spans an expansive 77,309.43 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration of a permanent even-aged native forest involves establishing native forests on land where vegetation was previously cleared and regrowth has been actively suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. This is achieved by removing the suppressing factors. For Woolibar Station, the primary project activity is the strategic management of the timing and extent of livestock grazing. This controlled approach allows native vegetation to naturally regenerate from in-situ seed sources already present in the soil, such as rootstock and lignotubers.

The Kalgoorlie-Boulder region is situated within the Great Western Woodlands and is historically known for large-scale pastoral leases (primarily cattle and sheep grazing) and extensive gold mining operations. The local environment is characterized by a semi-arid climate, typically receiving low average annual rainfall of around 250mm to 270mm. The regional soil profile predominantly consists of red dirt, sandy loams, and shallow stony earths. These conditions traditionally support arid eucalypt woodlands, including Salmon Gum and Gimlet, alongside Mulga and saltbush understories.

The project is managed by the proponent AI Carbon WA No.2 Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Australian Integrated Carbon, which holds an active carbon abatement contract with the Commonwealth for over 360,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). The pastoral station itself is operated by local owners who have historically run up to 2,000 head of cattle. In recent years, the station faced severe multi-year drought conditions, forcing them to de-stock and buy in hay, highlighting how carbon farming serves as a crucial supplementary income and diversification strategy for drought-stricken pastoralists. Additionally, the property has a rich goldfields history and houses the "King Battery" site, a historic mining installation recognized on the Register of Heritage Places by the Heritage Council of Western Australia. The carbon project underwent a formal name variation in September 2024, changing from its original identifier "AIC HIR WA2 WS" to Woolibar Station.