Toowoomba council approves Millmerran Power Station’s plan to plant one million trees over 1600ha in Domville

In a bid to offset its own carbon production, a major Darling Downs power station has been approved to plant one million trees over the next five years.

A Darling Downs coal-fired power station has been given the green light to plant one million trees southwest of Toowoomba, in a bid to offset the carbon created by it.

Millmerran Power Management Pty Ltd, which owns the Millmerran power station, was approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council for a massive “carbon sequestration” project across 1600ha of land surrounding the plant and attached coal mine south of Millmerran.

According to the original report by Precinct Urban Planning, the company would plant 500 native trees per hectare, with the aim of completing it by 2027 over two stages.

The owners of the Millmerran power station have been approved for a 1600-hectare reforestation project surrounding its plant and associated coal mine.

“The Millmerran Carbon Reforestation project involves the staged and programmed planting of permanent plantations of native species to facilitate carbon sequestration,” the report said.

“The proposed planting regimen involves a planting rate of approximately 400 to 500 plants per hectare.

“Planting will occur in autumn and spring. Species selections requires conformance with environmental planting guidelines.

“Regional ecosystems, provenance, moisture content, soil type, seedling availability, and improving biodiversity outcomes (koala habitat) all direct species selection.”

Millmerran Power Station.

Species like spotted gums, gum-topped box and red ironbark will be planted as part of the project.

It is understood the planting will take place up to 24 hours a day, with four people working alongside a tractor to complete it.

Council planning officer Bevan Koelmeyer approved the code-assessable application, including nearly 30 conditions with the approval.

“The proposed development generally complies with the assessment benchmarks and where applicable, relevant and reasonable conditions have been imposed,” he wrote in his assessment report.

Carbon offsetting has become a big business in recent years as companies try to take advantage of Australia’s changing approach to renewable energy and reducing emissions.

Tree planting has become a big part of it, with emitters granted carbon credits by engaging in reforestation projects.

Mining giant Glencore is currently trying to secure a carbon capture and storage trial in the Western Downs, which would involve capturing emissions produced by the Millmerran power station and injecting it into a sandstone aquifer deep underground at a site near Moonie.

The plan has been criticised by the Toowoomba Regional Council over concerns for water security.