SA Hawick Soil Carbon

SA Hawick Soil Carbon is a soil carbon sequestration project located at the "Hawick" property in Shaugh, South Australia, approximately 50km north of Bordertown near the Victorian border. It was registered in October 2024 and covers an area of 5055.05 ha, following an August 2025 variation that removed some previously listed areas from the project boundaries.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models 2021 methodology. This method allows land managers to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by implementing new or materially different management activities that actively increase the carbon stored in agricultural soils. The amount of carbon sequestered is verified through a rigorous process of baseline soil sampling combined with subsequent laboratory measurements or hybrid model-based estimates.

The Tatiara and Southern Mallee region surrounding the project is primarily utilized for livestock grazing, dryland cropping, and mixed farming. The area experiences a Mediterranean to semi-arid climate, with local weather stations indicating average annual rainfall in the range of 370mm. The native soils on the property are predominantly deep sands characterized by non-wetting properties, low natural fertility, and extremely low clay and organic matter content, making them highly susceptible to erosion without adequate ground cover.

To address these material soil deficiencies, the project activities include applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers, using cover crops to promote vegetation cover, and using mechanical means to add or redistribute soil throughout the profile. Notably, the Hawick property, owned by Shane Nicholle, was chosen as a key case study site for the PIRSA (Primary Industries and Regions South Australia) Growing Carbon Farming Demonstration Pilot. Through collaboration with project proponent RegenCo, alongside FarmLab and Soil & Land Co, the property has actively explored agronomic improvements like clay delving and spreading, utilizing clay sourced from their own on-farm pits, to transform their deep sandy soils into resilient, carbon-rich agricultural land. Furthermore, the property serves as an important ecological buffer, with its boundaries adjoining both the Ngarkat Conservation Park in South Australia and the Red Bluff Flora and Fauna Reserve in Victoria, which protect threatened Mallee woodland habitats.