Campus sustainability group grows biodiversity across Wagga Wagga campus

Charles Sturt University’s Wagga Wagga campus, staff and students have worked together to enhance biodiversity and cultural awareness. Through its long-standing environment-based working group, known as EAGERR (Environmental Action Group Ensuring Restoration and Reconciliation), Charles Sturt has supported practical, locally led action to improve ecological outcomes while engaging the campus community. These efforts aligned with Charles Sturt’s goal to allocate 30 per cent of campus land for biodiversity improvement by 2030 and progression of its First Nations strategy.

The Wagga Wagga group has successfully secured internal sustainability grants over many years to implement a wide range of projects. These initiatives included replacing irrigated turf with native plantings to reduce water use and reliance on chemical herbicides and fertilisers. A farm dam was enhanced by redirecting stock access and introducing native vegetation to improve water quality and create habitat for native fauna. Revegetation zones were protected with exclusion fencing to manage rabbits, alongside targeted understorey planting and installation of artificial nest boxes to support arboreal birds and mammals. Guided walks to educate participants on places of cultural significance and Annual National Tree Day events involved local schools and community groups, resulting in more than 10,000 native seedlings planted on campus.

The group’s success has been rooted in its ethos that everyone’s ideas are important and through collaboration, meaningful outcomes can be achieved.