Run-O-Waters Carbon Sequestration Project

Run-O-Waters Carbon Sequestration Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located at Run-O-Waters, a rural locality situated approximately 7km west of Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. It was registered in October 2015 and currently covers 80.50 hectares.

Soil carbon sequestration projects using measurement and models involve building soil organic carbon by altering agricultural land management practices. The resulting carbon increases are then estimated through a combination of direct soil sampling and mathematical modelling. Standard requirements typically involve modifying baseline agricultural activities to ensure new carbon is sequestered, which must be rigorously documented and measured over time.

The Goulburn and Southern Tablelands area is traditionally known for sheep and beef cattle grazing, alongside a growing semi-rural residential presence. The region experiences a moderate, temperate climate with average annual rainfall typically between 600mm and 700mm. Soils in the vicinity vary but often consist of sandy loams, red basalt, and texture-contrast soils.

This project aims to increase carbon in the local agricultural soil system by applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material deficiencies, re-establishing pastures through targeted seeding or pasture cropping, and altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of livestock grazing to improve overall soil health and vegetation cover.

Over its lifespan, the project has undergone several administrative updates, including reductions to the project area in late 2024 and mid-2025. In March 2025, the proponent transitioned from Corporate Carbon Solutions Pty Ltd to Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd. In February 2026, the project updated its methodology from the legacy 2014 soil carbon determination to the updated 2021 measurement and models methodology. Interestingly, the Run-O-Waters project was also selected as a focal site in a Monash University research study evaluating the effectiveness of the Emissions Reduction Fund in supporting NSW graziers with sustainable soil management.