Peats Ridge Neverfail Source

Peats Ridge Neverfail Source is an environmental planting project located at Peats Ridge, approximately 20km northwest of Gosford on the New South Wales Central Coast. The project was registered in March 2025 and covers an area of roughly 16.5 hectares. The site is situated within the hinterland of the Central Coast, a region characterised by a mix of remnant bushland and rural activities.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM 2024 methodology. This method facilitates the generation of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by establishing permanent native forests. Key requirements involve planting a mix of native tree and shrub species local to the area at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover (typically at least 200 stems per hectare with the potential to reach 20% crown cover). The 2024 iteration of this method utilizes the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) to model carbon sequestration based on site-specific data.

Peats Ridge is situated on a plateau known for its high rainfall, receiving approximately 1,200mm to 1,400mm annually, which supports robust vegetation growth and recharges the local aquifers. The soil in this region is predominantly sandy loam derived from Hawkesbury Sandstone, often associated with the Somersby soil landscape. These deep, permeable soils are historically significant for the region's land use, which includes citrus and avocado orchards, poultry farming, and spring water extraction.

A notable aspect of this project is its likely connection to the Neverfail Springwater brand, which sources water from the Peats Ridge aquifer. The project name "Neverfail Source" and the involvement of Landcare Australia Limited as the proponent suggest a corporate stewardship initiative designed to rehabilitate the catchment area surrounding the spring, enhancing biodiversity and water quality while sequestering carbon.