Whitlam Carbon Project 2

Whitlam Carbon Project 2 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Upper South East region of South Australia, approximately 15km southeast of the township of Tintinara. Registered in April 2022, the project covers a land area of roughly 128 hectares. The project is managed by Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, a prominent developer in the Australian soil carbon sector.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which rewards landholders for increasing the amount of organic carbon stored in their soil. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the project must demonstrate a measurable increase in soil carbon stocks over time compared to a baseline. This is achieved through changes in land management practices designed to boost plant growth and reduce carbon loss. Key activities for this project include the application of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to correct nutrient deficiencies, the retention of crop stubble to protect soil structure, and a transition from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage systems.

The Tintinara and Coorong District region is characterised by a semi-arid to Mediterranean climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 450mm to 500mm. The landscape is known for its sandy soils, often described as sandy loams over clay or limestone (calcrete). These soils can be prone to issues such as water repellence ("non-wetting sands") and low fertility. By implementing reduced tillage and stubble retention, the project likely aims to improve soil moisture retention and organic matter levels, which are critical for sustaining mixed farming and cropping operations in this sandy landscape.