Campbells River Biodiversity Restoration Project

The Campbells River Biodiversity Restoration Project is an environmental planting project located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, approximately 40km south of Bathurst and west of Oberon. Registered in May 2025, the project covers 26.39 hectares within the Oberon Council local government area.

The project operates under the 2024 Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of mixed native tree and shrub species at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover (typically a minimum of 200 stems per hectare). As an environmental planting, the vegetation is protected for a period of 100 years and cannot be harvested for commercial timber, ensuring long-term carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits.

The surrounding region is characterized by a cool temperate climate with reliable rainfall, generally exceeding 700mm annually, which supports land uses such as cattle and sheep grazing as well as commercial pine forestry. The soils in this area are typically derived from granite or basalt parent material, resulting in fertile clays and loams suitable for the project's aim of restoring the local native vegetation community structure.

The project proponent is Coille Management PTY LTD, acting as trustee for the Campbell Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF). The use of the Gaelic word "Coille" (meaning forest or wood) in the proponent's name, combined with the project's specific biodiversity focus, suggests a targeted investment in land restoration. The project is designed to mirror the composition of local native vegetation, enhancing habitat connectivity in an area known for its fragmented agricultural landscapes.