Newman Carbon Project 2

Newman Carbon Project 2 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Riverland region of South Australia, approximately 10km northeast of the town of Loxton and just south of Moorook. Registered in July 2024, the project covers a relatively small area of 174 hectares. The surrounding landscape in this part of the Murray Mallee is predominantly utilized for dryland cropping and grazing, interspersed with irrigated horticulture nearer to the Murray River.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models Methodology Determination 2021. This method incentivizes landholders to increase Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks by changing land management practices. Unlike environmental plantings which rely on visible trees, soil carbon projects sequester carbon underground within the soil matrix. A key requirement of this methodology is the implementation of at least one new Eligible Management Activity (EMA).

The specific activity undertaken for this project is the application of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material soil deficiencies. By identifying and correcting nutrient gaps (such as phosphorus or nitrogen deficits), the project aims to boost plant growth and root biomass production. This increased biological activity draws more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and deposits it into the soil, where it can be stabilized as organic carbon.

Environmentally, the Loxton region is classified as semi-arid, typically receiving low annual rainfall averaging between 250mm and 280mm. The soils in this area are characteristic of the "Mallee" region, often consisting of calcareous earths, sandy loams, and dune-swale systems. These sandy soils can be low in organic matter naturally, meaning that successful nutrient management and groundcover retention are critical for achieving the sequestration gains targeted by the project. The "No. 2" in the project name implies this is likely an expansion or a secondary aggregation of a preceding project by the same landholder family (Newman) or proponent.