Wagga Wagga Station

Wagga Wagga Station is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 30km east of the Yalgoo township in the Murchison region of Western Australia. It was registered in March 2023 and covers an expansive area of 85,676.63 hectares. The surrounding pastoral district is traditionally known for broadacre grazing, primarily running sheep and cattle, as well as historic and active mining operations.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects aim to establish permanent, even-aged native forests by facilitating assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. This methodology is strictly applied to land that was previously cleared of vegetation and where natural regrowth has been suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. To successfully regenerate the native canopy, the Wagga Wagga Station project actively manages the timing and the extent of livestock grazing. By removing this suppression pressure, the native bushland is allowed to regenerate and eventually reach forest cover.

The local environment of the Yalgoo and Murchison regions experiences a harsh semi-arid to arid climate characterized by low and erratic rainfall, typically averaging 200mm to 300mm annually. The soil landscape generally consists of red earthy sands, shallow red loams over hardpan, and calcareous soils that naturally support mulga and saltbush shrublands.

Managed by project proponent AI CARBON PROJECTS NO 3 PTY LTD, the project underwent variations in August and September 2023, where specific areas were removed from the original project area. Interestingly, Wagga Wagga Station holds a notable pastoral history. Purchased by the Kanny family in 1985, it became a prominent Merino sheep station. However, like many pastoralists in the region, the family previously had to destock their flock of 8,500 sheep due to severe wild dog attacks. They have heavily relied on the development of the Murchison Regional Vermin Council (MRVC) cell fence to protect the property, combat the wild dog issue, and potentially allow a return to the sheep industry alongside running their carbon project.