Glencoe MMV Soil Carbon Project

Glencoe MMV Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located at Glencoe Station, approximately 30km north of Mendooran in the Central West region of New South Wales. Registered in March 2025, the project covers 617 hectares of agricultural land within the broader Mendooran Aggregation. This area is situated roughly 90km north of the major regional centre of Dubbo and lies south of the Warrumbungle National Park.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon (Measurement and Models) methodology. This framework requires the proponent to establish a baseline of soil organic carbon (SOC) through physical sampling before implementing new management activities designed to increase carbon levels. For Glencoe, these activities include re-establishing or rejuvenating pastures through seeding and pasture cropping, as well as introducing legume species to improve soil nitrogen and biomass. The project will measure changes in soil carbon stocks over time, generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) for the sequestered carbon.

The local environment in the Mendooran district is characterized by a temperate to semi-arid climate, typically receiving an average annual rainfall of approximately 600mm. The landscape generally supports mixed farming, consisting of grazing and broadacre cropping. Soils in this region are diverse, often featuring Red Chromosols (red-brown earths) and sandy loams on the slopes, with pockets of heavier clay soils (Vertosols) in the valleys that are suitable for cultivation.

A notable aspect of this project is its proponent, Valley River Holdings Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Hancock Agriculture. Glencoe Station is part of a significant aggregation of properties owned by mining magnate Gina Rinehart, which serves as a hub for a large fullblood Wagyu cattle herd. The involvement of Elders Rural Services suggests they are acting as a service provider or aggregator, assisting with the complex administration and compliance required for soil carbon projects under the ACCU scheme.