Last year Council, in consultation with wildlife care organisations and the volunteers working at the site, installed an irrigation system within the Everglades Lagoon Bushcare site. 

The irrigation system will be utilised as a tool to mitigate heat stress events that have severe detrimental effects on the endangered Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) potentially leading to death. Large numbers of Grey-headed Flying-foxes colonise the site at varying times throughout the year depending on food availability within the area.

The Grey-headed Flying-fox is listed as vulnerable under NSW and Commonwealth legislation. The species plays an important ecological role as pollinators and seed dispersers, having the capability to travel 100km and spread 60,000 seeds in one night. The Everglades Lagoon Bushcare site contains two Endangered Ecological Communities and high priority feed trees such as Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) and Broad-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) which support Flying-fox colonies in roosting and foraging.

Flying-foxes suffer significantly from heat stress when temperatures reach above 38 degrees Celsius. These heat stress events have caused high mortality rates of Flying-foxes at the Everglades site in the past despite the best efforts of wildlife carers. To date there is anecdotal evidence from wildlife carers that during last summer, when the irrigation system became operational, the sprinklers were successful in reducing stress to these animals.

Irrigation lines, attached to metered water mains, were installed in 3 trees throughout the main colony area. Sprinkler heads attached atop these lines expel a fine mist of water for the Flying-foxes to remain cool. To ensure the efficacy of the irrigation system data loggers were also installed within both irrigated and non-irrigated zones to monitor temperature differences across the site.

The Environmental Volunteer Program is committed to the ongoing conservation of this endangered species having received additional financial support from Local Land Services through a grant. The funding will be used to enhance the current irrigation system and undertake bush regeneration works to improve habitat and foraging areas for the Grey-headed Flying-fox and other native fauna.