Downer Carbon Project 3

Downer Carbon Project 3 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the West Wimmera region of Victoria, near the South Australian border. The project area spans approximately 348 hectares and is situated roughly 15 kilometers northwest of the town of Kaniva. It was registered with the Clean Energy Regulator on August 4, 2022.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method allows for the generation of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by measuring increases in soil organic carbon stocks over time, often utilizing a "hybrid" approach that combines physical soil sampling with modeled estimates to reduce compliance costs. The specific activities undertaken to achieve these gains include converting from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices, retaining crop stubble to protect topsoil and return organic matter, and applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies and stimulate plant growth.

The West Wimmera region is characterized by a semi-arid to temperate climate, typically receiving between 400mm and 500mm of rainfall annually. The landscape in this specific border zone often features "texture contrast" soils, consisting of sandy loams overlying heavier clay subsoils, or dune-swale systems common to the interface between the Wimmera and the Mallee. The land use in the area is predominantly mixed farming, supporting broadacre cropping (cereals and oilseeds) alongside sheep grazing. The project proponent, Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, is a prominent developer in the sector, known for managing a large portfolio of soil carbon projects across Australia.