Coreena Planting Project R2-1485

Coreena Planting Project R2-1485 is a permanent environmental planting project located in the Eurongilly Valley, approximately 20km east of Junee and 45km northeast of Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Registered on March 14, 2023, the project encompasses 51.22 hectares of land on the property known as "Coreena" (specifically the Coreena South holding). The surrounding region is a highly productive mixed-farming area, primarily utilised for winter cropping (wheat, canola) and grazing sheep and cattle.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM) Methodology Determination 2014. This methodology incentivises the establishment of permanent native forests on land that has been clear of forest cover and used for agriculture for at least five years. The carbon sequestered by the trees is calculated using the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM). For this specific project, approximately 27,000 native trees were planted on non-arable hilltops to create wildlife corridors and improve biodiversity, effectively integrating carbon farming with active agricultural production.

Environmentally, the Eurongilly Valley is characterised by reliable rainfall and a mix of fertile soil types. The property features rich red loams on the farming country and basalt-derived clay soils on the grazing hills. The plantings are strategically located on these basalt hilltops, which are less suitable for cropping but ideal for establishing hardy native vegetation.

An interesting note is the connection to the project's proponent and participants. The project was established by Olivia Skellern (née Bunn), a dual Olympian equestrian, and her family prior to the property's sale in 2024. The carbon project was highlighted during the marketing of the property as a "landmark asset" that diversified the farm's revenue stream through carbon credits while enhancing the landscape's ecological value.