Sleatbank Carbon and Biodiversity Project

Sleatbank Carbon and Biodiversity Project is a plantation forestry project located in the locality of Yulecart, approximately 15 kilometers west of the major regional center of Hamilton, Victoria. Registered on July 10, 2024, the project covers 408 hectares in the Southern Grampians Shire. The specific location, known historically as "Sleat Bank," is situated within the fertile "Green Triangle," a premier region for both agriculture and timber production in Australia.

The project operates under the 2022 Plantation Forestry methodology, specifically utilizing the "Avoided Conversion" activity (Schedule 3). This indicates that the plantation forest on the site was at risk of being harvested and converted back to non-forested land, likely for grazing or cropping, which are the dominant traditional land uses in the Hamilton district. By registering this project, the proponent commits to continuing the plantation forestry activities, thereby maintaining the carbon stored in the trees rather than reverting the land to pasture.

The environment in this part of Western Victoria is characterized by a temperate climate with reliable rainfall, typically averaging around 675mm annually, which supports vigorous vegetation growth. The landscape features rolling terrain with fertile loamy and basalt-derived soils, making it highly suitable for both livestock (wool and beef) and commercial timber species like Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus). The proponent, Green Triangle Plantation Forest Company of Australia (GPFL), is a significant entity in the region's timber industry, owned by the Japanese Oji Group, and focuses on securing hardwood resources. Interestingly, the project name references "Sleatbank," a historic property with a notable Edwardian homestead that dates back to the early 20th-century pastoral boom.