About the project

Barwon Water is planning to reforest our Aire River site south of the Beech Forest township, to increase biodiversity, restore a part of the Aire River, provide habitat for wildlife, and create nature-based carbon offsets.

The project aims to extend the natural biodiversity of the Great Otway National Park, which is adjacent to the site, by re-stablishing approximately 170 hectares of land with species that reflect local and historical vegetation.

Nature-based carbon sequestration re-establishes forest on previously cleared land, to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in trees and other vegetation. This project is part of a larger sequestration program that will help us achieve our net zero emissions target by 2030.

The project will be registered with the Australian Carbon Credit Unit scheme and is expected to sequester up to 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years.

Project details

In late 2025 Barwon Water will begin a range of site investigations as part of the project’s planning and design phase, including flora and fauna assessments, service proving and mapping.

We will inform adjacent landowners about this project.

Protecting native flora and fauna

The revegetation process will reflect the local and historical vegetation of the Beech Forest area. This is determined by the local Ecological Vegetation Class as provided by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

The habitat of up to 35 threatened plants and animals will be expanded as part of this project, and it will increase the range of Cool Temperate Rainforest, a threatened ecological community in Victoria.

All seed will be collected locally, and the new habitat will remain onsite permanently.

Bushfire preparedness is highly important to Barwon Water. We will take steps to manage fire risks associated with the project including, and not limited to, buffers around houses and powerlines, and fire breaks.

Working with Traditional Owners

We are committed to deeply listening to, learning from, and helping to realise the recommendations and directions of Traditional Owners.

We will work alongside Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation on this project, including working with Eastern Maar to realise their goals and direction as per Meerreengeeye ngakeepoorryeeyt (Healthy Country Plan).