Mulga Downs Managed Regrowth Project

Mulga Downs Managed Regrowth Project is a native forest regeneration project located at Mulga Downs Station in the Shire of Balonne, Queensland. Situated approximately 90km southwest of Bollon and just 20km north of the New South Wales border, the project covers a significant area of 5,817 hectares. It was registered on March 24, 2024, by the proponent JSKJ Cookson Pty Ltd, acting as the trustee for Mulga Downs Trust. The property has historically been used for pastoral purposes, specifically sheep and cattle grazing, which is the dominant land use in the surrounding region.

The project operates under the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth methodology. This method is designed to regenerate native vegetation on land that has been cleared for pastoral use. Unlike environmental planting projects which involve active seeding, this project relies on assisted natural regeneration from in-situ sources such as rootstock, lignotubers, and existing seed banks. To achieve this, the proponent must cease mechanical or chemical suppression of regrowth and actively manage the timing and extent of livestock grazing to allow the native forest to re-establish forest cover.

Environmentally, the project is situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, a semi-arid area characterized by low and variable rainfall, typically averaging between 300mm and 400mm annually. The soils in this region are predominantly red earths (Kandosols) and sandy loams, which support the growth of the project's target vegetation, primarily Mulga (Acacia aneura) and associated shrublands. It is important to note that while this project shares its name with the well-known Mulga Downs Station in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, it is a distinct property located in South West Queensland.