Apple Berry Hill Plantation

Apple Berry Hill Plantation is a plantation forestry project located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, situated approximately 10 kilometers southeast of the town of Nabiac. Registered in January 2024, the project covers a small area of 14.65 hectares. The surrounding region, particularly around the Coolongolook and Wootton areas, is characterized by a mix of native forestry, grazing, and rural lifestyle properties. The terrain in this locality typically features rolling hills and ridges, supported by a humid subtropical climate with high annual rainfall, often exceeding 1,100mm. The soils in this area are generally acidic, texture-contrast soils such as Kurosols or clay-loams (Dermosols), which are well-suited to timber production.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Unlike environmental plantings which are permanent and not harvested, this methodology allows for the establishment of new plantation forests for commercial harvesting. The project generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by sequestering carbon in the growing trees, as well as in the long-term storage of harvested wood products. The activity specifically involves establishing a new plantation on land that was previously cleared (typically for grazing or cropping), creating a dual revenue stream from both carbon credits and future timber sales.

The proponent, The Happy Turtle Pty Ltd as Trustee for Happy Turtle Super Fund, suggests this is a self-managed super fund (SMSF) investment. This aligns with the relatively small project size of roughly 14 hectares, which is typical for private landholders utilizing carbon projects to diversify income on smaller rural blocks. While the name "Apple Berry Hill" might evoke images of orchards, the project's classification strictly as commercial plantation forestry indicates a focus on timber species, likely eucalypts or softwoods standard for the region, rather than fruit production.