Dunns Plains Shelterbelt Plantings

Dunns Plains Shelterbelt Plantings is an environmental planting project situated on the historic "Dunns Plains" property, located approximately 5 kilometers from the hamlet of Rockley and 38 kilometers south of Bathurst in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Registered in August 2024, the project falls within a substantial project area of approximately 2,295 hectares. The surrounding region is deeply entrenched in pastoral agriculture, specifically high-productivity sheep and cattle grazing, with the property itself historically recognized as a significant livestock operation capable of carrying over 20,000 Dry Sheep Equivalents (DSE).

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of tree and shrub species native to the local area on land that has been clear of forest cover for at least five years. As the name "Shelterbelt" implies, the project likely utilizes linear planting configurations designed to integrate with the active grazing enterprise. These belts serve a dual purpose: sequestering carbon to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) and providing vital ecosystem services such as windbreaks and shade for livestock. To meet methodology standards, such plantings must typically achieve specific stocking densities, often higher for narrow belts compared to block plantings, to ensure they attain "forest cover" status.

Environmentally, the Rockley district is characterized by a cool temperate climate with reliable rainfall, typically averaging between 650mm and 750mm annually. This precipitation supports the granite-derived sandy loams and pockets of basalt soils found in the area, which are conductive to both pasture growth and native reforestation. The landscape consists of undulating hills and flats, fed by watercourses such as Peppers Creek.

A unique feature of this project is the historical significance of the location. Dunns Plains is well-known in Australian folklore as the site of a dramatic 1863 encounter where the Ben Hall bushranger gang held Gold Commissioner Henry Keightley hostage, a standout event in the region's colonial history. The carbon project is facilitated by Carbon Stock Pty Ltd, a specialist consultancy that focuses on integrating natural capital opportunities with existing farming operations.