Southern Cross Yilgarn North Carbon Project

Southern Cross Yilgarn North Carbon Project is a plantation forestry project located approximately 35km northwest of the town of Southern Cross in the Shire of Yilgarn, Western Australia. Registered in May 2025, the project covers a substantial area of 9,295 hectares. The surrounding region is situated on the eastern fringe of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, an area traditionally defined by broadacre cropping and sheep grazing, alongside significant mining activity.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Unlike environmental plantings which are permanent, this methodology involves establishing new forest plantations for the commercial harvesting of wood products. The 2022 determination allows for the integration of carbon sequestration with timber production, requiring adherence to specific rotation schedules and water interception rules.

Environmentally, the Yilgarn region is classified as semi-arid with a low annual rainfall, typically averaging around 300mm. The landscape is characterized by the ancient Yilgarn Craton, featuring soils that range from sandplains to ironstone gravels and red earth loams. To suit these challenging conditions, the project proponent, Outback Carbon Pty Ltd, typically selects drought-tolerant native species such as Gimlet (Eucalyptus salubris) and Salmon Gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia).

An interesting feature of this project is its agroforestry design. Outback Carbon (now managed by Mitsui E&P Australia) utilizes a model that integrates tree planting with existing agricultural operations. By targeting approximately 20% canopy cover, the project aims to retain the majority of the land for continued farming activities like cropping or grazing, rather than locking up the entire property as a forest. This approach seeks to balance carbon abatement with regional food and fiber production.