Millmerran Power Carbon Farming Project

Millmerran Power Carbon Farming Project is a large-scale environmental planting project located in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, immediately surrounding the town of Millmerran and the associated Commodore Mine. The project is situated approximately 85 kilometers south-west of the major regional city of Toowoomba. Registered in December 2022, the project covers a significant area of 6,544 hectares, utilizing land holdings managed by Millmerran Power Management Pty Ltd that serve as buffer zones for their power generation and mining operations.

The project operates under the "Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings" methodology (FullCAM). This specific carbon farming activity involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree and shrub species on land that was historically cleared and used for agricultural purposes, such as grazing or cropping, for at least five years prior to registration. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the project must maintain strict stocking densities to achieve forest cover, with carbon abatement calculated using the government's Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM).

Environmentally, the Millmerran region sits within a warm temperate zone with a mean annual rainfall of approximately 600mm to 650mm, bordering semi-arid conditions. The local landscape is dominated by the fertile, heavy cracking clay soils (Vertosols) for which the Darling Downs is famous, supporting a mix of dryland cropping (sorghum, wheat, cotton) and cattle grazing. The project explicitly uses species native to the local area to ensure resilience in these soil and weather conditions.

A notable feature of this project is its role within the broader ESG strategy of its proponent, a major coal-fired power station operator. While the proponent explores various avenues for emissions reduction, this specific project focuses on land-based sequestration. Public records and site visit reports indicate that the planting design specifically incorporates Koala food trees to enhance local biodiversity and create wildlife corridors around the mining lease. The project has engaged The Carbon Farming Foundation as an agent and utilized specialized contractors for the physical planting of seedlings across the vast utility-owned property.