Otway Silva 2025_1

Otway Silva 2025_1 is a Plantation Forestry project located near the township of Simpson, approximately 35km southwest of Colac in the Otway region of Victoria. Registered in October 2024, the project covers a significant area of 2,173 hectares. The site sits within the Heytesbury Settlement area, a region historically cleared for dairy farming but increasingly utilized for commercial timber production due to its reliable climate.

The project operates under the 2022 Plantation Forestry method, specifically focusing on the establishment of new plantation forests (Schedule 1). This methodology requires that the land has not had native forest cover for at least seven years prior to planting. Unlike permanent environmental plantings, this project involves growing trees, likely Radiata Pine or Tasmanian Blue Gum, for commercial harvest. Carbon credits are generated based on the carbon stored in the trees and the long-term storage in wood products manufactured after harvest.

The Simpson region is characterized by a high rainfall climate, typically receiving over 850mm annually, which supports rapid tree growth. The soils in this area are generally fertile, consisting of grey sandy loams overlying yellow clays or volcanic clay loams, making them highly suitable for deep-rooted vegetation.

Otway Silva Pty Limited serves as the proponent, with Midway Plantations Pty Ltd acting as the agent and manager. This project appears to be part of a larger investment vehicle managed by Midway, as evidenced by similar registered projects (Otway Silva 2024 and Otway Silva 2026 series). The project area saw substantial expansion through multiple variations in late 2025, suggesting an aggressive strategy of aggregating agricultural land for forestry conversion.