Mirage Rocky HIR Regeneration Project

Mirage Rocky HIR Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on the "Mirage Plains" aggregation, approximately 55km south of Cunnamulla in southwest Queensland. Registered in September 2023, the project covers a substantial area of 51,076 hectares within the Paroo Shire. The site sits between the Warrego River and Cuttaburra Creek, near the New South Wales border, in a region historically dominated by pastoral grazing (sheep and cattle) and some irrigated cropping.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating native forests on land where vegetation was previously suppressed, typically by mechanical clearing or heavy grazing, for at least 10 years. By ceasing these suppression activities and managing the timing and extent of grazing, the project aims to allow native species, likely Mulga (Acacia aneura) and associated woodlands, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers.

Environmentally, the region falls within the Mulga Lands bioregion, characterized by a semi-arid climate with hot summers and variable, low rainfall (often averaging 200-400mm annually). The terrain features a mix of landscapes, including cracking clay soils (vertosols) on the floodplains of the Warrego and Cuttaburra systems, and red earths or sand sheets in the surrounding Mulga country.

An interesting note about this project is the history of the landholding. The "Mirage Plains" property was formerly part of the RM Williams Agricultural Holdings portfolio before the company's receivership in 2013. At that time, it was noted for having significant water entitlements and irrigation infrastructure, highlighting a shift in land management strategy from intensive irrigated agriculture to a model integrating carbon sequestration with extensive grazing. The project is managed by Mirage Land and Water Company Pty Ltd with the assistance of carbon service provider Regenco Pty Ltd.