The Waterhouse River Carbon Project

The Waterhouse River Carbon Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on Conway Station, approximately 135km east of Katherine in the Northern Territory. Registered in September 2023, the project covers a vast area of 139,270 hectares in the Roper Gulf region. The property is situated along the Central Arnhem Road and is bounded by the Waterhouse River, bordering Arnhem Land to the north and west.

The region is characterised by a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The landscape features a mix of black soil plains and red Tippera soils (sandy clay loams), which support open woodlands and native grasses. The primary land use in this area is pastoral cattle grazing.

This project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which awards carbon credits for regenerating native forest cover on land where vegetation has been suppressed for at least 10 years. Project activities focus on managing grazing pressure to allow in-situ seed sources (such as rootstock and lignotubers) to recover. On Conway Station, this involves the strategic management of cattle and the humane control of feral animals, specifically water buffalo, which are a significant environmental suppressor in the Top End.

An interesting aspect of this project is its proponent, Waterhouse River Pty Ltd, which is associated with Viridios Capital. Viridios Capital acquired Conway Station to demonstrate an integrated management model where carbon farming operates in parallel with sustainable cattle operations. The station includes significant infrastructure for buffalo mustering, highlighting the dual economic focus of the property.