Townley Carbon Project (Revoked)

The Townley Carbon Project (Revoked) was a soil carbon sequestration project located near Peachester in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland. Situated approximately 8km southeast of Maleny and 30km southwest of Caloundra, the project operated on a 79.76-hectare property in a region characterized by its rolling green hills and mixed rural land use, primarily cattle grazing and dairy farming.

Registered on November 8, 2021, the project utilized the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems) Methodology Determination 2018. This method credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels through specific management activities. For the Townley project, these activities included applying synthetic or non-synthetic nutrients to address soil deficiencies, re-establishing pastures through seeding, and altering grazing intensity or duration. The objective was to build carbon stocks in the soil, which are measured against a baseline to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

The Peachester and Crohamhurst area is renowned for its high rainfall, historically recording some of the highest precipitation levels in Southeast Queensland (often exceeding 1,800mm annually). The local environment typically features deep, fertile Red Ferrosols (volcanic clay-loams), which are highly favorable for pasture growth and carbon sequestration potential. Despite these favorable conditions, the project was revoked on September 23, 2025, under Section 30 of the CFI Rule. A Section 30 revocation is voluntary, indicating the proponent chose to exit the scheme, potentially due to land sale, strategic shifts, or other commercial reasons.