Lazzarini Carbon Project 3

Lazzarini Carbon Project 3 is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 35km west of Temora in the Riverina region of New South Wales. It was registered in September 2021 and covers 238.88 hectares. The Temora Shire is a major agricultural hub, with the surrounding land predominantly used for mixed farming, including sheep grazing and broadacre cropping such as wheat and canola.

Soil carbon projects involve adopting new or materially different agricultural management practices to increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. Under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models method, standard requirements dictate that proponents must establish a baseline through physical soil testing. They can then use approved models to estimate soil carbon gains over time, updating these estimates with periodic physical measurements.

The region around Temora experiences a temperate climate, with moderate annual rainfall typically averaging around 584mm. The local soils are generally characterised by red-brown earths, clay loams, and some sandy loams, which are highly variable but generally well-suited to the region's long-standing agricultural activities.

This project aims to build soil carbon by altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing to promote soil vegetation cover and improve soil health. Additional activities include applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertiliser to address material soil deficiencies, converting from intensive to reduced or no-tillage practices, and retaining stubble after a crop is harvested. Interestingly, in July 2024, the proponent varied the project's methodology from the 2018 measurement-only method to the 2021 measurement and models determination, a strategic change likely made to streamline ongoing testing procedures and incorporate modelled estimates alongside physical coring.