Wannon Pastoral Company - Sawlog Project

Wannon Pastoral Company - Sawlog Project is a plantation forestry project located in the Southern Grampians region of Western Victoria, approximately 20 kilometers north of Coleraine and Casterton. The project was registered in March 2023 and covers a significant area of 1,272 hectares. The region is part of Victoria's renowned Western District, a prime agricultural zone characterized by rolling volcanic plains and dissected tablelands.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. This methodology involves establishing new plantation forests, or converting existing short-rotation plantations to long-rotation, for the purpose of commercial harvesting. In this specific case, the project focuses on establishing new trees to produce sawlogs. Carbon credits are generated based on the carbon sequestered in the growing trees as well as the long-term storage of carbon in the harvested wood products.

The surrounding landscape is dominated by high-value grazing land, primarily used for sheep and cattle production, alongside established forestry operations. The proponent, Wannon Pastoral Company, is a well-known family-run business that operates an Angus cattle stud in the area. This suggests the project represents a diversification of their agricultural enterprise, integrating timber production with their existing livestock operations.

Environmentally, the region benefits from a reliable, high-rainfall climate with wet winters and dry, warm summers. The soils in this part of the Western District are typically basalt-derived, often featuring heavy grey or black cracking clays (Vertosols) and duplex soils (Chromosols) which offer high fertility and water-holding capacity suitable for both pasture and timber growth.