Ottley Station Packhorse Pastoral Land Pty Ltd Soil Carbon Project

The Ottley Station Packhorse Pastoral Land Pty Ltd Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located at Ottley Station, approximately 50km west of Inverell in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales. Registered in August 2022 and covering a substantial area of 8,558 hectares, the project was originally established by the investment firm Packhorse Pastoral. However, following the acquisition of the property in 2023, the proponent is now Valley River Holdings Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hancock Agriculture (Gina Rinehart’s agribusiness).

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon Methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This framework incentivizes land managers to increase soil organic carbon levels through regenerative practices. The primary activity on Ottley Station involves altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing. Under the previous owner, the station utilized a "grass motel" agistment model to strictly manage cell grazing. Under Hancock Agriculture, the property has been integrated into their premium Wagyu beef operations, continuing the focus on improving soil health and vegetation cover to drive carbon sequestration.

Environmentally, the region is well-suited for this methodology. Ottley Station is characterized by black basalt and clay soils, which are highly reactive and capable of storing significant carbon. The area receives a reliable mean annual rainfall of approximately 500mm, supporting the growth of native pastures and legumes essential for soil carbon build-up. The general land use in the surrounding Inverell and Warialda district is dominated by cattle grazing and dryland cropping.

An interesting note regarding this project is its high-profile transition between owners. Packhorse Pastoral originally acquired Ottley Station as part of an ambitious strategy to build a $1 billion "regenerative agriculture" portfolio. Following the tragic death of Packhorse's co-founder in 2022, the portfolio was liquidated, leading to the purchase of Ottley Station and neighboring properties by Gina Rinehart's Hancock Agriculture for approximately $80 million. The project continues to run, demonstrating the transferability of carbon projects during major agribusiness acquisitions.