AKD-4 Vic 2022: Wheelers Hill

AKD-4 Vic 2022: Wheelers Hill is a plantation forestry project located approximately 2.5km northwest of Heywood in the Glenelg region of south-west Victoria. It was registered in July 2023 and covers 111.95 ha.

Plantation forestry projects involve establishing and maintaining a new plantation forest for the commercial harvesting of wood products. Under this methodology, carbon is sequestered as the trees grow and remains stored long-term in the harvested timber. AKD's commercial forestry operations typically involve planting seedlings at a density of up to 1,400 trees per hectare to ensure optimal growth and strength characteristics for structural timber.

The Heywood and broader Green Triangle region is well known for its extensive commercial forestry operations, as well as cattle and sheep grazing. The area experiences high rainfall and the soils are generally a mix of clay and sandy loam, which provide ideal environmental conditions for large-scale softwood pine plantations.

This project sequesters carbon through the establishment of a new commercial plantation. Interestingly, the project proponent, Associated Kiln Driers Pty. Limited (AKD), is a 100% Australian-owned company and one of the largest softwood sawmilling businesses in the country, having operated since 1955. The project was originally registered by Landari Pty Ltd under the name 'Landari AKD-4 Vic 2022: Wheelers Hill' before a variation in November 2023 transferred it to AKD, with the project name being officially updated in March 2026.