Lakeland Downs Soil Carbon Project

The Lakeland Downs Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located on the "Lakeland Downs" property near Condamine, approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Miles in the Western Downs region of Queensland. Registered in August 2024, the project covers a substantial area of 1,658 hectares, which closely aligns with the property's reported size of 4,000 acres. The region is a significant agricultural hub known for mixed farming, combining dryland and irrigated cropping (such as cotton and cereals) with cattle grazing.

Operated by New Leaf Ag Pty Ltd, a family-owned company led by industry figure Nigel Corish, the project aims to build soil organic carbon stocks through improved land management practices. Under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models methodology, the project involves altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing, and utilizing cover crops to enhance soil vegetation cover. By baselining current carbon levels and implementing these changes, the project seeks to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil, generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) upon verified increases.

The Western Downs environment is characterized by a semi-arid to subtropical climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 550mm to 600mm, often summer-dominant. The landscape typically features fertile, heavy clay soils, specifically Vertosols (cracking clays), which are common in the Brigalow Belt and highly suitable for soil carbon projects due to their capacity to retain organic matter. Interestingly, the proponent Nigel Corish is a Nuffield Scholar and a director at GrainGrowers Limited, highlighting the project's connection to broader agricultural innovation and sustainability efforts in the cotton and grains sector.