Swartz Carbon Project 2

Swartz Carbon Project 2 is a soil carbon project located at Calliweera Station in Morinish, approximately 45km northwest of Rockhampton in Queensland. It was registered in March 2022 and covers 404.57 hectares.

Soil carbon projects under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models methodology involve implementing new agricultural land management practices to increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. Standard requirements include establishing a soil carbon baseline and undertaking at least one new eligible activity, such as altering grazing patterns or seeding pastures, coupled with ongoing soil sampling and modelling to verify carbon stock changes.

The Morinish area and the broader Fitzroy River catchment are heavily utilized for beef cattle grazing and farming. The region experiences a subtropical, semi-arid climate characterized by moderate, summer-dominant rainfall. Soils in this part of the Brigalow Belt are typically heavy cracking clays (Vertosols) and sodic texture-contrast soils, which can be highly susceptible to erosion when vegetation cover is low but are highly responsive to regenerative agricultural practices.

This project aims to increase soil carbon by altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing, specifically transitioning from set stocking to high-density rotational grazing. Additional activities include applying nutrients in the form of synthetic or non-synthetic fertiliser to address material deficiencies, and rejuvenating the pasture through seeding.

Swartz Carbon Project 2 is part of a larger 11-project aggregation spanning over 2,109 hectares managed by the Warnock family across their Calliweera farming enterprise. Notably, the overarching Swartz Carbon Projects achieved significant results early on, successfully generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) within just two years instead of the typical five-year cycle. The property is also actively involved in the Fitzroy Water Quality Program, where these improved grazing and land management practices are actively reducing sediment runoff to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, on September 2, 2025, the project varied its method from the earlier 2018 Measurement methodology to the updated 2021 Measurement and Models method.