Lakeland Downs Soil Carbon Project

Lakeland Downs Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located approximately 12km southwest of Condamine in the Western Downs region of Queensland. It was registered in August 2024 and initially covers 1,658 ha.

Soil carbon projects utilizing the Measurement and Models methodology involve altering agricultural management practices to sequester carbon in the earth, which is then carefully quantified over time through direct soil sampling and mathematical modelling.

The Condamine region is a highly productive agricultural hub predominantly known for sheep and beef cattle grazing, alongside dryland cropping of cereals, pulses, and cotton. The area is considered to have a semi-arid to subtropical climate characterised by summer-dominant rainfall. The local soils are generally Vertosols, fertile, shrink-swell cracking clays that hold water well, along with some distributions of Kandosols and Sodosols.

This project was set up to increase carbon in the soil by altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of livestock grazing. It also incorporates the use of cover crops to promote continuous vegetation cover and improve overall soil health. Managed by New Leaf Ag Pty Ltd and supported by Carbon Link Operations Pty Ltd, the project has committed to a 25-year permanence period. Interestingly, in September 2025, the project underwent a variation to its boundaries, resulting in some originally listed land areas being removed from the project footprint.