Why is Southern Rural Water considering carbon offsets?
Southern Rural Water is assessing land holdings across southern Victoria (including sites at Lake Glenmaggie, Lake Merrimu and Blue Rock Lake), to see if there are suitable locations to undertake carbon reforestation offsets that could help us achieve our net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target.
Carbon reforestation offsets involve planting trees to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and contribute to reducing the effects of climate change.
We are already reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through the installation of solar panels and the purchase of green energy. Planting trees to generate carbon offsets is another way of reducing our climate change impacts, which we are currently exploring.
What is the process?
In late May 2024, following an exhaustive tender process, Southern Rural Water appointed Warragul-based Nexsys Industries Consulting to undertake this work.
Nexsys will lead a skilled, locally based, multi-disciplinary team of bushfire risk, landscape planning, agriculture, environment, horticulture, and cultural heritage survey specialists to conduct the following:
- Bushfire risk and current condition site assessment
- Site condition, existing species, and Ecological Vegetation Class condition assessment
- Site suitability, gradient, land use condition, planting method limitations, weed and pest assessment
- Broad cultural heritage assessment.
What consultation are you doing?
Our starting point was to offer to meet in person with people who have access rights to Southern Rural Water land to ensure they were briefed.
Nexsys Industries Consulting will require access to our land and it is important to us that those with access rights are aware of the assessment approach before we have people on site. Once Nexsys has completed their assessment (expected to be July 2024) the local community will have the opportunity to provide feedback to Southern Rural Water on the findings.
Have any decisions been made?
No decisions have been made on whether to proceed with any plantings, nor will they be, until advice is received from Nexsys and the community has had an opportunity to provide feedback on any proposal we develop based on the assessments.
Why will Blue Rock be assessed for its suitability?
Southern Rural Water is assessing land holdings across southern Victoria, including land surrounding Blue Rock Lake.
Will every parcel of land being explored be selected?
No. We are assessing 376 hectares of land holdings across southern Victoria with consideration being given to planting up to 200 hectares for carbon offsets.
The final decision on any land parcels to proceed with planting will be made based on the outcomes of Nexsys’ assessment and community feedback.
What is the bushfire risk of this project?
Community safety is paramount in every decision we make. If plantings will add bushfire risk to the community of Willow Grove or local landowners, we will not proceed with planting in those parcels of land.