Wallaby Wetlands Carbon Project

Wallaby Wetlands Carbon Project is an environmental planting project located in Far North Queensland within the Mareeba Shire Council area, approximately 40km north of Mareeba. It was registered in April 2023 and covers 74.62ha.

Environmental planting projects involve planting native trees at a density of at least 200 stems per ha to restore native forest cover and sequester carbon. This project establishes permanent plantings of a mix of native tree species on land that was predominantly used for agricultural purposes for at least five years prior to project commencement.

The Mareeba Shire and surrounding Wet Tropics region are historically known for agricultural uses, including sugarcane farming, grazing, and tropical cropping. The area is considered high rainfall and soils are generally alluvial, including sandy clay loams and sandy loams.

Interestingly, Wallaby Wetlands was set up on a former sugarcane farm that is now being regenerated into a thriving wildlife sanctuary. Backed by a 16-year, $3.3 million collaboration with the Queensland Government's Land Restoration Fund, the project aims to restore critical habitat for a diverse range of native and threatened species, such as southern cassowaries, spectacled flying-foxes, striped possums, and northern quolls. The project has undergone a few variations since registration, including adjustments to the project boundaries in August 2023 and August 2024, and a proponent name change from CO2 AUSTRALIA LIMITED to CO2 AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd in December 2024.