Ilbilbie Soil Carbon Project

Ilbilbie Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located at Ilbilbie, approximately 76km south of Mackay in the Isaac Region of coastal North Queensland. It was registered in April 2024 and covers an area of 566.48 hectares. The surrounding region is highly regarded for its agricultural output, with the primary land uses being irrigated sugarcane production, aquaculture, and beef cattle grazing. The local environment features a sub-tropical to tropical climate characterized by high but highly variable annual rainfall. Soils in this coastal and sub-coastal area are diverse, typically featuring rich Vertosols (cracking clays) and Dermosols along the river valleys and plains.

Soil carbon projects registered under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology aim to increase the amount of carbon stored in agricultural soils by implementing new or materially different land management practices. These projects rely on rigorous baseline soil measurements and ongoing laboratory testing to ensure carbon is genuinely being sequestered over a nominated permanence period, which for this project is set to 25 years.

This specific project seeks to increase soil carbon in the local agricultural system by incorporating cover crops. This activity promotes soil vegetation cover, improves overall soil health, and importantly, helps to limit sediment and agricultural runoff.

Interestingly, the project proponent, QNCF Ilbilbie Pty Ltd, is tied to a natural capital joint investment between the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) and sugar industry leader Lee Blackburn. The venture applies a private equity model to manage the sugarcane property, with a strong environmental focus on improving the water quality that runs off into the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, a recent variation to the project on 6 May 2026 resulted in the removal of certain areas initially listed under the project's boundaries.