Lakeland Downs Soil Carbon Project

Lakeland Downs Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located in the Western Downs region roughly 12km southwest of Condamine in Queensland. It was registered in August 2024 and initially covers an area of 1,658.19ha.

Soil carbon projects operating under the "Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models" methodology involve adopting new land management activities to increase carbon stored in agricultural soils. This process requires establishing a baseline soil carbon level via direct soil core sampling, followed by subsequent measurements and modeling to demonstrate genuine carbon sequestration over a nominated permanence period, which is 25 years for this project.

The Condamine and greater Western Downs area is widely known for extensive cattle farming and broadacre cropping operations. The region typically experiences a semi-arid to sub-humid climate with summer-dominant rainfall, and the landscape is highly valued for its fertile, cracking clay soils (vertosols) historically associated with brigalow scrub.

This project increases carbon in the agricultural system by altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing to promote robust vegetation cover and improve overall soil health. Additionally, the project integrates the use of a cover crop to further protect and build the soil profile. Facilitated by Carbon Link Operations Pty Ltd on behalf of proponent New Leaf Ag Pty Ltd, the project underwent a registry variation in September 2025 where specific areas were removed from the initially registered footprint, a standard administrative practice used to exclude ineligible land prior to baseline sampling and modeling.