Penola Plantations 2026 – P26-6 Penola North

Penola Plantations 2026 – P26-6 Penola North is a plantation forestry project located approximately 12 kilometers east of the town of Penola in the "Green Triangle" region of South Australia. Registered on September 9, 2025, the project covers a land area of roughly 103 hectares. The site sits within the Limestone Coast region, an area renowned for its productive primary industries, including extensive radiata pine forestry, viticulture (specifically the nearby Coonawarra wine region), and livestock grazing.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Specifically, it employs the "avoided conversion" activity (Schedule 3 of the method). This means the project proponent has demonstrated that the plantation area was at significant risk of being permanently converted to non-forested land, such as pasture for grazing or cropping, following harvest. By committing to re-establish and maintain the plantation forest for another commercial rotation, the project avoids the emissions associated with clearing and ensures continued carbon sequestration in the growing trees and long-term wood products.

The environmental conditions in the Penola region are highly favourable for forestry. The area typically experiences a reliable high rainfall climate, averaging between 620mm and 685mm annually. The soils are characteristically fertile and well-drained, often consisting of shallow red loams over limestone (the famous "Terra Rossa" soils) or sandy loams over clay and calcrete. These soil profiles provide excellent moisture retention and root depth potential, supporting vigorous growth for deep-rooted plantation species like Pinus radiata.

Timberlands Pacific Pty Ltd, the proponent, manages the extensive "Penola Plantations Estate," which comprises over 47,000 hectares of pine plantation across the South Australian and Victorian borders. This project is part of a broader portfolio of carbon estimations aimed at quantifying the climate benefits of sustainable timber production. The "Green Triangle Forest Operating Sub Trust" acts as the financial participant, reflecting the complex investment structures often underpinning large-scale commercial forestry assets.