Wongalee NFMR Project

Wongalee NFMR Project is a Native Forest from Managed Regrowth project situated on Wongalee Station, located near Dirranbandi in the Balonne Shire of south-western Queensland. It was registered on March 26, 2024, and covers a project area of 15,766.72 hectares. The project operates with a 25-year crediting period and is formally committed to a 100-year permanence period.

Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) projects involve allowing permanent native forests to naturally regenerate from existing rootstock, lignotubers, and in-situ seeds. This methodology requires the proponent to cease comprehensive mechanical or chemical land clearing that previously suppressed native regrowth. Standard requirements also dictate that proponents actively manage the timing and extent of livestock grazing to ensure the regenerating trees can successfully reach required forest cover thresholds.

The Balonne Shire region is primarily characterized by broadacre pastoral land uses, particularly cattle and sheep grazing, alongside some intensive cropping operations. The area experiences a semi-arid climate with variable, relatively low rainfall that makes water retention a priority for landholders. Soils across this district typically include highly fertile cracking clays (Vertosols) as well as red and yellow texture-contrast soils and massive earths (Chromosols, Dermosols, and Kandosols).

The Wongalee property has historically been used for cattle grazing. In late 2023, the 32,000-hectare aggregation of Wongalee and the neighbouring Honeymah station was purchased for approximately $32 million by Pastoral Partners Australia, an agricultural land and carbon owner-operator backed by New Zealand infrastructure investor Morrison & Co. The carbon project was established across the station to integrate commercial cattle production with permanent carbon sequestration, enhancing regional biodiversity resilience while producing Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).