Wallaby Wetlands Carbon Project

The Wallaby Wetlands Carbon Project (ERF181454) is a permanent environmental planting initiative located in the Julatten and Mount Molloy region of Far North Queensland, approximately 40 kilometres north of Mareeba. Registered in April 2023, the project covers 74.62 hectares of land situated within the Mareeba Shire Council area. This region is a unique transitional zone between the Wet Tropics rainforests and the drier savannah woodlands to the west.

The project operates under the "Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM" methodology, which involves establishing a permanent forest of native tree species on land previously cleared for agricultural use, in this case, predominantly grazing or mixed farming. The specific methodology requires planting at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover (typically at least 200 stems per hectare), with carbon sequestration calculated using the FullCAM model. The project area has undergone several adjustments, with a notable variation in August 2024 removing certain areas from the project scope.

Environmentally, the site sits on the fringe of the high-rainfall coastal belt, likely receiving between 1,100mm and 1,500mm of annual rainfall, characterized by a sharp gradient from the wet Julatten uplands to the drier Mount Molloy area. The soils in this locality are typically derived from metamorphic metasediments (Hodgkinson Formation) or alluvial clays, supporting a mix of rainforest and woodland vegetation.

A significant feature of this project is its inclusion in the Queensland Government's Land Restoration Fund (LRF), securing a $3.3 million investment (Project R1086). Beyond carbon abatement, the project is contracted to deliver co-benefits including the protection of threatened ecosystems and wildlife, and the improvement of water quality entering local waterways. The proponent, CO2 AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd, manages the site to enhance connectivity between remnant native vegetation, providing critical habitat in this biodiversity hotspot.