Albury-Wodonga campus critical to biodiversity

A biodiversity report has identified a substantial number of biodiversity assets on the Albury-Wodonga campus, previously a significantly disturbed site. Specifically, the area to the north of the campus (the David Mitchell wetlands) was identified as “functioning well again with good aquatic bird diversity and an apparently healthy aquatic vegetation community developing”. This wetland provides a significant opportunity for a biodiversity/wildlife corridor running from west to east across the Albury-Wodonga Campus.

The native fauna species identified on Albury-Wodonga campus through biodiversity monitoring activities includes Sloane’s Froglet Crinia sloanei, a small ground-dwelling frog (around 15 to 20mm). Their conservation status is listed as endangered on both state and national levels. Populations of Sloane’s Froglets are restricted to Thurgoona, the riparian zone of the Murray River from Howlong to Corowa and there’s a small remnant population at Tocumwal. Charles Sturt University is in the middle of the Albury suburb of Thurgoona. The David Mitchell wetlands has one of the largest viable populations in the area, so Charles Sturt University is absolutely critically in the persistence and viability of this species.