AKD-4 Vic 2022: Wheelers Hill

AKD-4 Vic 2022: Wheelers Hill is a plantation forestry project located approximately 25km north of Portland in the Green Triangle region of south-western Victoria. It was registered in July 2023 and covers 111.95ha.

Plantation forestry projects involve sequestering carbon by establishing and maintaining a new plantation forest intended for the commercial harvesting of wood products. Standard requirements dictate that the trees must be planted at a sufficient stocking density to achieve a permanent forest canopy, generally requiring a minimum of 20% crown cover and a potential height of at least 2 metres.

The south-western Victorian region is renowned for its extensive commercial forestry operations and traditional agriculture, such as dairy, beef, and sheep farming. The area experiences a temperate climate with moderate to reliable high rainfall, while local soils generally consist of sandy loams over clay subsoils (chromosols and sodosols), alongside patches of volcanic basalt.

This project was established to sequester carbon through the planting of a new commercial plantation. Originally registered by Landari Pty Ltd under the name 'Landari AKD-4 Vic 2022: Wheelers Hill', the proponent was formally changed to Associated Kiln Driers Pty Ltd in November 2023, and the project name was updated in early 2026. Trading as AKD Softwoods, the proponent is a major integrated forestry and timber processing company and is recognised as Australia's largest softwood sawmilling business. Through this project, AKD secures critical local timber supplies for its milling operations while generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) over a 25-year permanence period.