Coonan Carbon Project 1

Coonan Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon project located near Kongwak in the South Gippsland region of Victoria, approximately 17km east of Wonthaggi. It was registered in September 2024 and covers 52.66ha.

Soil carbon projects under the Measurement and Models methodology involve implementing new agricultural management practices to increase the amount of carbon stored within the soil profile. Standard requirements for this method include conducting rigorous baseline soil sampling, mapping and stratifying the land, and undertaking periodic laboratory re-testing to accurately measure carbon sequestration over the crediting period.

The South Gippsland area is widely known for its productive agricultural land, primarily utilised for intensive dairy farming and beef cattle grazing. The region experiences a temperate climate with high, reliable rainfall generally reaching above 900mm across much of the basin. Soils around the Kongwak area are generally characterised by very dark grey silty clay loams and sandy loams overlying heavier clay subsoils.

This project specifically focuses on increasing soil carbon in the agricultural system by applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to address material nutrient deficiencies. It is managed by Agriprove, a major Australian soil carbon developer. Notably, the public registry contains multiple sequential "Coonan Carbon Projects" registered by the proponent, suggesting a broader aggregation of farm properties or staged development areas across the local landscape.