Moolan Downs Soil Carbon Project

Moolan Downs Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Western Downs region of Queensland, approximately 50 kilometers northwest of the township of Moonie and near the locality of Westmar. Registered in September 2022, the project covers a significant area of 8,856 hectares. Originally established by Packhorse Pastoral Company as part of their "grass motel" agistment model, the project proponent was transferred to Valley River Holdings Pty Ltd in June 2024. Valley River Holdings is a subsidiary of Hancock Agriculture, the agribusiness arm of Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, which acquired the property following the sale of the Packhorse portfolio.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks through changes in land management. Standard activities for this project type include converting from continuous to time-controlled rotational grazing, retaining stubble, and introducing deep-rooted pasture species or legumes to improve soil aeration and biomass. The specific aim at Moolan Downs is to alter stocking rates and grazing intensity to promote vegetation cover, simultaneously supporting the property's function as a backgrounding operation for Hancock’s 2GR Wagyu beef herd.

The Western Downs region is a transitional zone characterized by a semi-arid to subtropical climate with summer-dominant rainfall, averaging approximately 500mm to 550mm annually. The local environment is defined by fertile, heavy clay soils, specifically self-mulching grey cracking clays (Vertosols) and Brigalow soils, which are highly conducive to holding carbon when managed correctly. These heavy clay soils were a primary factor in the property's initial selection for carbon projects, as they offer higher sequestration potential compared to sandier substrates.