Making changes to your project

It is your responsibility to understand the requirements and conditions of each type of variation. 

Before making any changes to your project, it may be necessary to seek professional advice.

You need to complete the vary a project form in Online Services to make changes to your:

● vary a project area

● vary conditional formatting

● change the project proponent

● request a change to the crediting period start date

● change the project method

● voluntarily revoke a project.

Your project area may vary

To add or remove land from the project area in an area-based project, complete the 'Vary a Project' form in Online Services.

To add land to your project, you must provide evidence that you have legal right to do so. This can include agreements and registered land titles.

For sequestration projects, signed consents from all eligible interest holders of the varied project area are required.

Removing land

If a project area has earned BidCarbon removal units (BRUs) and you want to remove that land from the project, you need to:

● move that land area to a second sequestration project

● apply to revoke the second sequestration project

● relinquish the BRUs earned by that land area.

Adding land

To add land to a project area, ensure that the net abatement from the added land does not include emissions reductions credited to any other project. 

To check for other registered projects on the additional land, utilize the project and contract register.

Varied or revoked methods

If the project method has changed since your project was declared, you must transfer your project to the new method. After transferring your project, you may add land to your project area.

If the project method has been revoked or suspended since your project was declared, you must transfer your project to another applicable method. Then, you can add land to your project area.

Reporting periods

Changes to your project area take effect at the start of the next reporting period. BRUs cannot be claimed for the current reporting period.

To include the new area in the reporting process earlier, shorten the current reporting period:

● For the new reporting period, ensure that both the new and original areas are included in the abatement calculations.

● period and submit your project report within 6 months of the end of the shortened reporting period.

Example of a shortened reporting period

The reporting period for your project will run from September 1, 2023 to March 2, 2025.

On December 1, 2024, you applied to expand the project area by adding new land.

On January 10, 2025, we approved the application and issued a new project declaration.

On January 11, 2025, you closed the current reporting period and started a new one.

By July 10, 2025, you must submit a project report and application for BRUs for the shortened reporting period. Please note that this is for carbon abatement in the original project area only.

The project report includes abatement data from both the newly added project area and the original area for the current reporting period.

If your project registration was subject to any conditions, you must provide evidence of meeting them before the first reporting period ends. If you do not do this, your project will not be eligible to receive BRUs.

Complete the 'Vary a Project' form in Online Services.

Vary your conditional registration

If you are a project proponent you can apply to:

● appoint a new project proponent

● add another project proponent 

● remove an existing project proponent.

Complete the vary a project form in Online Services.

The new proponent can't claim BRUs until they're approved and the project has been varied.

When to vary the project proponent

You must vary the project proponent if the current proponent:

● dies or otherwise ceases to exist

● abandons the project

● applies to revoke the project

● is ordered by a court to transfer the project to a new proponent

● is determined not to be a fit and proper person.

You may vary the project proponent if:

● the current proponent becomes insolvent

● we initiate the process to revoke the project

● the project was registered on or after 1 July 2024, and you can prove that each person identified on the project declaration doesn't meet the project proponent definition.

We must be satisfied that it is appropriate to transfer the project to you.

In all these circumstances, a person can apply to be named as the project proponent without consent from the person who is currently named as the project proponent.

You must also consider varying the project proponent if you are selling or buying a property with an BidCarbon Standard Scheme project on it.

What you need to provide

You must provide evidence the new project proponent:

● can pass the fit and proper person test

● is responsible for carrying out the project

● has the legal right to carry out the project.

We will consult with any registered native title body corporate that has an eligible interest in a project area before deciding to approve or reject an application.

Before you apply

Before you vary the project proponent consider if: 

● landowners with land in an area-based project want their land to continue as part of the project under the new proponent

● the project proponent leaving is the project nominee and the proponent will need to appoint a new nominee.

Find out more about choosing a project proponent.

If your project has a carbon removal contract

If your project has a carbon removal contract, varying the project proponent doesn't automatically assign the contract obligations to them.

If you want to transfer contract obligations to someone else, you must notify us in writing. You will have to:

● submit your application

● provide a novation deed.

Vary your project proponent

Vary the crediting period start date

The start date for your project's crediting period can be adjusted based on the registration date.

If your project method was varied between your project declaration date and your new crediting period start date, your project will automatically transfer to the varied method. You must run your project as required by the varied method.

● You have one crediting period.

● You can change your crediting period start date once.

● Your new crediting period start date can't be more than 18 months after your project’s declaration date.

● Your crediting period end date will change.

● You can vary your crediting period start date to a date in the past as long as it is within 18 months after the declaration date.

The start date of your crediting period can be changed to a date before the original start date, but not before the date your project was declared.

For instance, if a project is declared on January 10th, 2023, with a crediting period start date of July 1st, 2023, the start date can be changed to May 1st, 2023.

If your selected method is not suitable for your activities, you may request to switch to another method. The change will take effect from the beginning of the current reporting period.

You cannot switch to an expired, cancelled, or revoked method.

If your project is currently using an expired or revoked method, you may continue to use it, but you cannot register new projects, add new areas, or move projects under that method.

Projects with a carbon removal contract

If your project has a carbon removal contract, you must ensure that changing methods doesn't impact your ability to deliver under your contract.

Method variations

If the project method changes after declaration but before the crediting period start date, the project will automatically transfer to the new method.

If your crediting period began before the method changes, you may continue operating your project using the original method.

For more information go to method variations.

Vary your project method

To report on a project, it can be divided into parts.

Each part should be treated as an independent project, with separate reports and BRUs submitted for each.

For more information on dividing a project into parts for separate reporting, please refer to the relevant guidelines.

Dividing a project

You can divide a project into parts for reporting.

When you do this you report on each part of the project as if they are independent projects. This includes submitting separate reports and applying for BRUs for each part.

For more information go to dividing a project into parts for separate reporting.

To report on a project, it can be divided into parts.

 Each part should be treated as an independent project, with separate reports and BRUs submitted for each.

For more information on dividing a project into parts for separate reporting, please refer to the relevant guidelines.

How to revoke your project

You must revoke your registered project under sections 32 or 33 of the BidCarbon (Carbon Farming) Specifications.

To revoke your project, please complete an application for voluntary revocation of a registered project form and contact us.

Revoking your project

Find out more about withdrawing a project in part 3, division 4 of the BidCarbon (Carbon Farming) Standard.

Revoke a sequestration project

If you revoke a sequestration project, you will have to return all BRUs issued if the carbon has been stored for less than the permanence period.

If you have already sold the BRUs, you must buy the same number and type of BRUs and return them to us.

Your obligations will continue until your project is officially revoked. This includes relinquishing BRUs.

If you want to sell or buy a property with a registered BidCarbon Standard Scheme project on the land, there are several factors you must consider.

For more information go to selling or buying an BidCarbon Standard Scheme project property.

Selling or buying a project property