Mystery Park Soil Carbon Project

Mystery Park Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located at the 'Mystery Park' property in St Lawrence, approximately 185km north of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. It was registered in May 2022 and originally covered an area of 8,533.25 hectares within the Isaac local government area, though a variation in April 2026 removed some portions of the project area.

Soil carbon projects operating under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models methodology involve estimating how much carbon is stored in the soil using a combination of physical soil sampling and calibrated modelling. To achieve this, the project alters the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of cattle grazing to promote soil vegetation cover, improve ground cover, and boost overall soil health.

The St Lawrence region is heavily utilised for cattle farming, specifically beef cattle agistment, breeding, and growing. The area experiences a coastal, high-rainfall environment, receiving an average annual rainfall of around 1,050mm. This reliable rainfall supports large bodies of pasture across the region's varying soils, which include fertile alluvial profiles along river country.

The project is championed by proponents Rob and Ainsley McArthur, who have managed the third-generation, 12,000-hectare cattle property since 2003. They observed ecological decline under previous continuous grazing models and successfully transitioned the property to an intensive rotational grazing system focused on capturing sunlight to grow grass while regenerating the ecosystem. The family is highly regarded in the beef industry for their dedication to sustainable agriculture, and they are supported in this carbon initiative by Carbon Link Operations Pty Ltd.