McClelland Carbon Project

McClelland Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located approximately 25km north-west of Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria. It was registered on April 29, 2022, and covers an area of 122.58 hectares (noted as 123 ha in public project directories).

Soil carbon projects operating under the "Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models" (2021) methodology involve undertaking eligible land management activities to build soil organic carbon. Standard requirements include taking baseline soil core samples before implementing new practices, executing a land management strategy, and conducting subsequent rigorous sampling and modelling to verify the net increase in sequestered carbon.

The Goulburn Valley area is a major agricultural hub, dominated by intensive irrigated cropping, dairying, and grazing. The region is generally classified as having a cool semi-arid to temperate climate, with average annual rainfall in this north-western part of the catchment historically ranging from 400 to 500 mm. Soils in the area are predominantly red-brown earths and fertile loams, typically featuring a loamy surface with heavier clay subsoils, which respond well to active soil carbon management.

This specific project was set up to increase carbon in the soil through several targeted agricultural changes. Guided by the proponent, Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, the property operators are applying synthetic or non-synthetic nutrients to the land to address a material soil deficiency. Additionally, the project focuses on retaining stubble after crops are harvested and converting from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices, which helps protect soil structure, decrease moisture loss, and accelerate carbon drawdown.