Ilbilbie Soil Carbon Project

Ilbilbie Soil Carbon Project is a Soil Carbon Measurement and Models project located near the rural coastal locality of Ilbilbie, approximately 75km south of Mackay in the Isaac region of Queensland. It was registered in April 2024 and covers an initial area of 566.48 hectares.

Soil carbon measurement and models projects involve implementing new or materially different land management practices to increase the amount of carbon stored in agricultural soils. These methodologies require proponents to establish baseline soil carbon levels and then use a rigorous combination of subsequent soil sampling and modeling to calculate and verify carbon sequestration over time in order to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

The Mackay and Isaac coastal region is highly regarded for its agricultural productivity, with land use dominated by sugarcane farming and cattle grazing operations. The environment is characterized by a tropical, high-rainfall climate, averaging over 1,500mm of precipitation annually. Soils in the Ilbilbie area range from fertile alluvial plains to sandy loams and deep cracking clays, providing an ideal foundation for both pasture and crop development.

This project aims to increase carbon in the soil of the local agricultural system by actively using cover crops to promote soil vegetation cover, improve soil health, or both. The project is operated by the proponent QNCF ILBILBIE PTY LTD, with Carbon Link Operations Pty Ltd participating as the project's agent. Interestingly, QNCF Ilbilbie Pty Ltd has strong ties to prominent local agricultural leadership, featuring directors who are heavily involved in sugarcane growing and regional irrigation cooperatives in the broader Mackay area. A recent administrative note indicates that on May 6, 2026, a variation to the project was recorded, removing certain areas that were originally listed under the project's boundaries.