Richardson Carbon Project 3

Richardson Carbon Project 3 is a soil carbon agricultural project located in the Shire of Cunderdin, Western Australia. The project area is situated approximately 20km northwest of the town of Cunderdin and roughly 25km northeast of Meckering. Registered on January 16, 2024, the project covers nearly 242 hectares of agricultural land. The numbering of the project suggests it is part of a series of staged developments by the landholder, with a "Richardson Carbon Project 1" also appearing in registry records.

The project operates within the Western Australian Wheatbelt, a region dominated by broadacre cropping (wheat, canola, barley) and sheep grazing. This area typically experiences a Mediterranean climate with a semi-arid influence, receiving average annual rainfall between 300mm and 400mm. The local landscape is often characterized by the "Zone of Ancient Drainage," featuring sandplains and sandy duplex soils (sand over clay/gravel) that can be susceptible to acidity and compaction but are highly responsive to improved management.

Developed by Agriprove, this project utilizes the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology. The specific activity involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to address material soil deficiencies. By correcting these nutrient gaps, the project aims to boost plant growth and root biomass, thereby increasing the rate at which carbon is sequestered into the soil organic matter. As a soil carbon project, it requires a 25-year permanence period, during which the proponent must monitor and maintain the increased carbon stocks to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).