Land Connection Program at Mountain Creek

The Land Connection Program at Mountain Creek is an environmental planting project located in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, approximately 5 kilometers southwest of the township of Omeo. Registered on March 15, 2023, the project covers a substantial area of 443.55 hectares. The site is situated within the "Mountain Creek" locality or property near the Great Alpine Road, a region traditionally characterized by rugged terrain used for cattle and sheep grazing as well as forestry operations.

Operated by D-Carbon Forests Pty Limited with support from Covalent Land Australia, the project falls under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings methodology. This involves establishing permanent forest cover using native tree species mixture, such as local eucalypts, at a density sufficient to reach forest potential (typically a minimum of 200 stems per hectare). The project area was previously agricultural land, used for grazing or cropping for at least five years prior to registration.

Environmentally, the Omeo region sits in a distinct rain shadow cast by the surrounding Victorian Alps, resulting in a temperate climate with moderate rainfall (averaging around 600-700mm annually), which is significantly drier than the nearby high peaks. The soils in this mountainous landscape are generally variable, ranging from shallow, stony soils on slopes to deeper loams and clays in the valley floors, supporting the native dry sclerophyll forests and grassy woodlands typical of the area. This project is part of a broader portfolio of "Land Connection Program" sites managed by the proponent, aiming to integrate carbon sequestration with sustainable land management.