Fresh Earth Agriculture - Cooksvale Reforestation Project

Fresh Earth Agriculture - Cooksvale Reforestation Project is an environmental planting project located near Peelwood, approximately 45km north of Crookwell in the Upper Lachlan Shire of New South Wales. It was registered in June 2025 and currently covers 119.51 hectares. In October 2025, a variation was approved to expand the project boundaries, bringing it to its current area.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings methodology. Environmental planting projects involve establishing and maintaining a permanent forest of native trees and shrubs, typically requiring a planting density of at least 200 stems per hectare to achieve a mature forest canopy. This specific project focuses on establishing a permanent mixed-species planting that accurately reflects the structure and composition of the local native vegetation community.

The Upper Lachlan Shire region around Peelwood and Crookwell is predominantly known for sheep and cattle grazing, alongside specialized cropping such as seed potatoes. The area is classified as a high rainfall zone, receiving between 850mm and 900mm of rain annually. The regional soils vary from granite-derived podzolic soils to highly fertile volcanic basalt, providing excellent conditions for reforestation and pasture growth.

The project is managed by Cooksvale Pty Ltd as the Trustee for Cooksvale Trust. Interestingly, the proponent is simultaneously operating a separate soil carbon project (the Cooksvale Soil Carbon Project) on the same property. This dual-method approach demonstrates a comprehensive effort to improve the land's health, capture carbon in both the soil and vegetation, and support the region's remnant eucalyptus, yellow box, and stringybark habitats.