Cabramatta MP Nick Lalich and Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt visited the colony recently at Cabramatta Creek with the Cabramatta Creek Flying Fox Committee.

``The project will restore vegetation on the banks of the creek between the Southern railway line and the Hume Highway,'' Ms Tebbutt said.

``This area is home to a grey-headed flying fox maternity colony and this project aims to bring together all stakeholders to ensure it is properly managed.''

Mr Lalich said the funding meant that volunteers could be kept busy and that professionals could be hired for some of the bigger tasks to care for this threatened species.

Cabramatta resident Elaine Brown joined the group nearly 10 years ago after seeing a poster in one of the local schools.

``We get together about once a month, weeding and collecting rubbish to keep the area clear,'' Mrs Brown said.

Over the 10 years, Doris Davenport of Cabramatta has been a member and has noticed more birds returning to the area and less rubbish being dumped since bollards were installed to stop cars.