Hidden Valley AC Project

Hidden Valley AC Project is an Avoided Clearing project located in the locality of Hidden Valley, approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Biggenden in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland. Registered in November 2022, the project covers a project area of roughly 110 hectares. The region is predominantly utilized for beef cattle grazing and forestry, characterizing a landscape where agricultural production coexists with remnant native vegetation.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Avoided Clearing of Native Regrowth) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology is designed for landholders who voluntarily forego their legal right to clear native forest regrowth. In Queensland, this typically applies to "Category X" land, which has a history of clearing for pasture but has since regenerated. By agreeing not to re-clear this forest for a set period (usually 25 or 100 years), the project generates carbon credits representing the emissions that would have occurred had the trees been removed and the debris burned or left to decay.

Environmentally, the Hidden Valley area sits within a subtropical climate zone with an average annual rainfall of approximately 700-800mm. The terrain in this part of the North Burnett is often rugged, featuring soils derived from the geological "Biggenden Beds," which can range from sandy silty sediments to the fertile red volcanic ferrosols found in nearby Coalstoun Lakes.

A notable aspect of this project is the involvement of Christophe Bur, a participant recognized in the industry for his "Zeebra Plains" property and his advocacy for integrating carbon farming with sustainable beef production. The project likely represents a strategic decision by the FJD Family Trust to diversify on-farm income by protecting biodiversity assets rather than expanding grazing pastures through clearing.