Okeview Environmental Planting Carbon Project

The Okeview Environmental Planting Carbon Project is an environmental reforestation initiative located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, approximately 15km northwest of Tarcutta and 40km southeast of the major regional city of Wagga Wagga. Registered on September 19, 2024, the project covers 137.59 hectares. The site sits within the Cootamundra-Gundagai and Wagga Wagga local government areas, a region heavily utilized for mixed farming, specifically cattle grazing and cropping operations.

This project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This method involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree and shrub species on land that has been clear of forest cover and used for agriculture for at least five years prior to the project's commencement. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the plantings must generally achieve a density of at least 200 stems per hectare to reach forest cover status. The carbon sequestration is modelled using the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM).

The environment in the Westbrook and Tarcutta area is characterized by reliable rainfall, typically averaging around 750mm annually, which supports productive pastures. The local topography usually consists of creek flats and undulating slopes featuring fertile soils, often described as clay loams or decomposed granites. These conditions are ideal for the project's goal of integrating native vegetation into an existing agricultural landscape.

The proponent, Okeview Farm Operations Pty Ltd, is associated with the management of Eringoarrah Station, a large grazing property known for Hereford cattle breeding. The planting project appears to be part of a broader "Living Carbon" strategy intended to provide co-benefits beyond carbon sequestration, such as creating shelterbelts for livestock, establishing wildlife corridors to enhance biodiversity, and controlling erosion along watercourses.