Mutton Hole Human Induced Regeneration Project

Mutton Hole Human Induced Regeneration Project is a large-scale carbon sequestration initiative located approximately 15km south of Normanton in the Gulf Country of Queensland. Registered in September 2023, the project covers a massive area of 138,550 hectares. It operates on Mutton Hole Station, a property that forms part of a cattle breeding aggregation alongside the neighbouring Oakland Park station, fronting the Norman and Carron Rivers.

The project utilizes the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology. This method generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by allowing native forests to regenerate on land where regrowth was previously suppressed. The project activities primarily involve managing the timing and extent of cattle grazing and controlling feral animals to reduce pressure on vegetation, thereby facilitating the return of permanent native forest cover.

The region is characterized by a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The landscape features extensive floodplains and wetlands, often supporting clay and alluvial soils that sustain the area's primary industry of cattle grazing. The nearby Mutton Hole Wetlands Conservation Park is a notable ecological asset, recognized for its diverse birdlife and complex freshwater habitats.

Rural Funds Management (RFM) acquired the property in 2016 as part of its expansion into the cattle sector. In 2024, RFM listed the Mutton Hole and Oakland Park aggregation for sale, highlighting the "conditionally registered" carbon project as a key value addition for potential investors. The project demonstrates how pastoral assets in Northern Australia are increasingly being dual-purposed for beef production and carbon farming.