Ballamore Carbon Project

Ballamore Carbon Project is a plantation forestry project located in the Shire of Northampton, Western Australia, approximately 60km northeast of the town of Northampton. Registered in June 2023, the project covers nearly 1,591 hectares at the northern edge of the Mid West agricultural region. The property borders the Coolcalalaya Reserve, sitting in a transitional zone where traditional broadacre farming meets the rangelands.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. This methodology involves establishing new timber plantations or converting short-rotation plantations to long-rotation cycles to sequester carbon in trees and harvested wood products. The Ballamore project specifically focuses on establishing a new forest for commercial harvesting. Unlike permanent environmental plantings, this approach allows for the rotational harvest of timber while maintaining an average carbon stock over the project's life.

Environmentally, the region is characterized by a semi-arid to Mediterranean climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 300mm to 350mm. The landscape is typical of the Northern Agricultural Region sandplains, featuring predominantly sandy loam and gravel soils. Outback Carbon, the project proponent, utilizes a "co-existence" model for this site, where plantation forestry is integrated with ongoing agricultural activities. This design allows neighboring farmers to lease the non-planted portions of the land for grazing or cropping, ensuring the property supports both carbon sequestration and traditional food production.