15. Transport

Importance of sustainability in transport

• See the Charles Sturt Transport action sheet [PDF 270KB]

Sustainable transport is making informed choices about the way we travel and knowing how these choices affect:

• Health and wellbeing
• Natural environment
• The broader community

Accountability against travel-related emissions is not yet recognised through state or federal legislation, though debate on how to tackle carbon emissions from travel and transport has risen to unprecedented prominence in recent years.

Given the high number of people at Charles Sturt University, our travel patterns have a significant impact on our surrounding communities, for example, though traffic congestion and pollution. Plus, travel and transport costs Charles Sturt University money, much of which is not immediately evident. Vehicle fleet management are only the visible tip of the iceberg – under the surface are many hidden costs.

If the impact on the balance sheet is worse than it first appears, the same is true of the impact on the environment. Transport is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, with commuter and business travel constituting nearly 40 per cent of kilometres driven by cars each year.

Charles Sturt University is committed to reducing and adapting vehicle use and will continually seek to reduce our carbon emissions.

Progress towards best practice

This framework was benchmarked on 17th August 2016. The below graph illustrates our progress towards best practice across the eight (8) activity areas.  The green bars reaching four (4) highlight best practice and the bars in red indicate the University’s current baseline ratings.

Action Plan

• See the Charles Sturt Transport Action Plan [PDF 354KB]

Initiatives

In 2022, the carbon emissions associated with land-based transportation and flights required for Charles Sturt University’s business operations totalled approximately 3,570 tonnes. A range of initiatives are being delivered with the aim of curbing these emissions while also encouraging the health and social benefits of active travel.

Walking, cycling, carpooling and catching public transport are all great ways to travel sustainably to Charles Sturt. Active transport is good for your health, for building relationships and connecting with your community, and it’s better for the environment. Learn more about the active transport options for your Charles Sturt University campus today!

Each year, staff and students get involved in Ride2Work Day, Bike Week, the staff bike share scheme and regular cycling to and around campus.

Bus to campus

Get active and catch the bus to campus. Check out our Transport Access Guides (TAGs) for info on the services in your area.

• Albury-Wodonga campus on a 908 Martin's Albury bus
• Bathurst campus on a 526 Bathurst Buslines bus
• Dubbo campus on a 571 Dubbo Buslines bus
• Orange campus on a 538 Orange Buslines bus
• Port Macquarie campus on a 325 Busways bus
• Wagga Wagga campus on a 966/967 Bus about Wagga bus

Bus subsidy application

Sustainability at Charles Sturt's bus subsidy is available to student clubs and associations to assist with the cost of buses to and from university associated events.

Clubs can apply twice per year and the subsidy pays for 50% of bus hire to a maximum of $200 per subsidy.

Apply for a bus subsidy

Charles Sturt University fleet

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted significant changes to the utilisation and composition of the Charles Sturt passenger vehicle fleet. Plans commenced in 2022 for the establishment of a passenger vehicle fleet reserve focussed on lower emission plug-in EV and hybrid vehicles along with EV charging facilities to service university-owned fleet vehicles. Future stages of investment in EV charging will focus on meeting the needs of EVs owned by students, staff and campus visitors.

Things we can all do to reduce our travel-related carbon emissions

• Consider whether you really need to travel – can you achieve similar outcomes using conferencing or virtual technologies?
• Hire the smallest University vehicle that meets your needs – this will save your team and the University money, plus reduce your carbon emissions.
• Carpool with a colleague whenever possible – the friendly fleet team will let you know if someone else shares a similar itinerary to you.
• Drive smoothly – frequent braking and acceleration will significantly reduce your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Did you know?

• A plug-in EV charged with renewably sourced electricity will produce no carbon emissions.
• A Toyota LandCruiser Prados travelling a return trip from Wagga Wagga to Bathurst will use approximately 50L of diesel and produce 133kg CO2-e of emissions.
• A return flight from Wagga Wagga to Sydney produces 254kg CO2-e of emissions.
• A return flight from Sydney to London produces 7840kg CO2-e of emissions.

Ride or walk to and around campus

Stay fit and reduce your carbon footprint by joining the active transport community and cycling or walking to Charles Sturt University and around campus.

Register your interest in participating in organised ride to campus events or accessing university-owned share bikes by contacting the Sustainability at Charles Sturt team sustainability@csu.edu.au.

You can use a Transport Access Guide (TAG) to show you how to access the campus from the Central Business District (CBD) in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga in a more active way. Active transport includes walking, cycling and public transport.

Upgrades and extensions have been made to the multipurpose paths, end of trip facilities and bus shelters located at a number of Charles Sturt campuses. These enhancements are intended to make walking, cycling and public transport to be a desirable alternative to private vehicle use and to increase pedestrian safety. To find out more about the walking trails available at your local campus, visit FMCentral and ensure the ‘Recreation’ layer is selected.

• TAGs
• Safe cycling – Centre for Road Safety
• Laws and road rules
• Cycling at Charles Sturt University