AKD-4 Vic 2022: Turrong Rd and Chrome Rd

AKD-4 Vic 2022: Turrong Rd and Chrome Rd is a plantation forestry project spanning two locations in South West Victoria: Chrome Road in Branxholme (approximately 25km southwest of Hamilton) and Turrong Road in Cooriemungle (roughly 15km inland from Port Campbell). Registered in August 2023, the project covers an area of 345.17 hectares.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Plantation forestry projects offset emissions by sequestering carbon through the establishment and maintenance of new plantation forests intended for the commercial harvesting of wood products. Standard requirements for this methodology mandate that the planted species must achieve adequate stocking densities to form a permanent forest cover, which is strictly defined as having the potential to reach at least 2 metres in height and providing a minimum of 20% crown cover across the land.

The surrounding South West Victoria region, encompassing the Corangamite and Southern Grampians local government areas, is traditionally utilised for dairy farming, cattle and sheep grazing, as well as large-scale commercial blue gum and pine forestry. The region boasts a temperate climate with high annual rainfall, providing excellent growing conditions for timber. Soils across these areas generally consist of fertile volcanic basalt plains, chromosols, and deep clay loams.

Originally registered by Landari Pty Ltd, the project's participant name was varied to Associated Kiln Driers Pty Ltd in November 2023, with a subsequent project name update in March 2026. Trading as AKD Softwoods, the proponent is a 100% Australian-owned business and Australia's largest softwood sawmilling company, which was originally founded in nearby Colac in 1955. Establishing these regional plantations serves a dual purpose: capturing carbon to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) while securing vital future timber supplies for AKD’s regional processing facilities.