Lake Learmonth Soil Carbon Project

The Lake Learmonth Soil Carbon Project is a soil organic carbon project located approximately 45km north-west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. Registered in May 2023, the project covers a substantial area of 2,524 hectares within the Fitzroy River Basin. The property, Lake Learmonth, is a well-established cattle grazing operation situated near the Bruce Highway and features frontage along the Fitzroy River.

This project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which rewards landholders for increasing soil organic carbon stocks over time. To generate credits, the proponent must establish a baseline of soil carbon through physical sampling and then implement new management activities designed to sequester more carbon. In this case, the project activities focus on altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing. This approach often involves rotational grazing strategies to improve ground cover and soil health, subsequently increasing carbon storage.

The region is characterized by a subtropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, typically receiving summer-dominant rainfall. The local environment in the Fitzroy Basin is known for its productive but often erodible soils, including extensive areas of cracking clay (Vertosols) and alluvial black soils on floodplains. The specific property has been recognized for its environmental stewardship; the proponent, associated with the Farmer family, has previously been awarded a "Reef Sediment Champion Award." This accolade acknowledged their efforts in installing riparian fencing and adopting rotational grazing to maintain high ground cover (70-80%) and reduce sediment runoff into the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

The project is facilitated by Carbon Link Operations, a Queensland-based aggregator specializing in soil carbon projects. The proponent, Farmer and Co. (as trustee for Farmer's Future Trust), has a long history in the Australian beef industry, with the family running Droughtmaster cattle in the Rockhampton region for generations.