Sunnyside Regeneration Project

Sunnyside Regeneration Project is a human-induced regeneration project located roughly 50km north of Stonehenge in the Longreach region of Central West Queensland. It was registered in September 2023 and covers 32,482.83 ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest projects involve allowing native forests to naturally regenerate by changing land management practices on land where vegetation was previously cleared and actively suppressed. Standard methodology requirements mandate that the regenerating vegetation must be protected to achieve a permanent native forest canopy cover of at least 20% and a minimum height of 2 metres.

The Longreach and Stonehenge area is heavily reliant on pastoral operations, with the dominant land use being sheep and beef cattle grazing. The region is classified as a semi-arid environment, typically receiving a low average annual rainfall of around 250mm to 500mm. It is known for high evaporation rates and periodic inland flooding. Regional soils are characteristically a mix of deep cracking clay plains that support Mitchell grass, wooded alluvial soils along the floodplains, and soft red earths featuring Mulga and Gidyea stone.

This project establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, on land where regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing. To achieve this, the primary project activity is the management of the timing and the extent of livestock grazing, which removes suppression pressure on young trees while still allowing for sustainable agricultural operations.

An interesting note about this project is its deep ties to the local community. It is operated by the Nunn family via Oxenhope Pty Ltd, who have lived and run sheep and cattle on the "Sunnyside" property for over 37 years. Furthermore, co-director Leonie Nunn has served as a Longreach Regional Councillor and has a long background in remote education, previously working as the teaching principal at the nearby Stonehenge state school.