Mr PETER DRAPER (Tamworth) [2.05 p.m.]: Today I congratulate the proactive community of Nundle. Nundle won the category for towns with a population under 350 at the recent Tidy Towns Awards in Tamworth. This followed on from its starring role on the television program Getaway recently. Nundle is a rural village within Tamworth Regional Council's boundaries, and has about 300 people living in the township, with a district population of some 1,200. When one drives across the new bridge into town, the parks and other community assets, roads and verges are always sparkling and immaculate, and the community often expresses gratitude for the wonderful efforts of Billy Smith, who works for council. Billy certainly loves his town.

Last week, during one of my regular trips to Nundle, I was pleased to present Nundle Public School Principal, Ian Worley, with a certificate recognising $2,500 in funding from the New South Wales Environmental Trust to help the school develop an innovative project—Garden to Kitchen to Garden Again. This money will allow Nundle Public School to develop an edible community kitchen garden using sustainable techniques, teaching students about the positive impacts that growing their own produce has on the environment, while they learn to value fresh, home-grown food. Upon leaving the school, Nundle Community Development Committee [CDC] member Megan Trousdale took me to look at Nundle's latest pride and joy, the redeveloped Captain Cook Park. This $110,000 playground development opened in late September, in time for the school holidays, and it provides an exciting new public space that re-creates the heritage of Nundle's wool history within a wonderland of kids' play equipment.

The park is a themed playground, with knitting needle-inspired swings, dog and sheep twisters and rockers, a slippery dip, climbing frames and even a shearing shed, with stencilled wool brands replicated on the interior walls by local school children, paying tribute to wool producers across the district. The new space is the best looking park in the region, and evokes a wonderful sense of heritage and history through the use of timber and iron in its themed designs. The playground is a creation of the Nundle Community Development Committee, who approached Tamworth Regional Council in 2006 for an upgrade. Sydney landscape architect designer Fiona Robbe adapted a "Fleece to Fashion" concept in designing the park, which follows the production process from sheep's back to wearable wool through the use of park structures, and featuring the shearing shed at the centre. It is inspired by the history of grazing in the area, and the subsequent establishment of the village's operating woollen mill.

Megan explained that the Nundle community not only wanted an extraordinary playground for the local children, but also one with the pulling power to attract families from Tamworth and surrounds. This community is highly entrepreneurial, and is always investigating opportunities that benefit the local economy, including the annual Nundle Chinese Go For Gold Festival held every Easter. Instead of buying an off-the-shelf playground, the Community Development Committee commissioned Fiona Robbe, and Megan told me that after visiting Nundle and Hanging Rock, Fiona quickly latched on to the vintage machinery at the woollen mill, and the wool-growing heritage of the area, resulting in the fleece-to-fashion theme that beautifully complements the vibrant town environment.

Community groups, businesses and individuals initially donated $35,000 towards the project, while Tamworth Regional Council obtained a $70,000 Federal Government stimulus package grant, allowing the vision to become a reality. I would like to honour the donors who included Wombramurra Black Simmentals, former councillor Robert Schofield, Nundle Arts Council, the Old Church Boutique, Peter and Helen Schofield and their family from Café Nundle, The Peel Inn, Gastronomy Australia Pty Ltd, Gordon and Olita Stewart, the Hills of Gold Motel, Nundle District Lions, Nundle Woollen Mill, Odgers and McClelland Exchange Stores, and the Grant family, for helping to make it happen.

Brisbane-based firm Harry Pearson Playground, which specialises in timber playgrounds, built the playground. The result is absolutely outstanding, and exceeds all initial community expectations. It brings Nundle families together for spontaneous play dates, and it strengthens social networks and family support, while attracting families from towns within a day trip distance by giving them another reason to visit Nundle. When I was there with Megan, three Tamworth families told me they drove up just to visit the park. Megan said:

Increasing the number of visitors will hopefully add to the prosperity of the town's businesses, and consequently help retain Nundle's population and essential services such as teachers at the schools, the community nurse, and police officer. In addition, the new playground will make Nundle more attractive to young families living in and around the town, while providing another gathering place for parents and children. This helps strengthen social networks for families and encourages children to be active, delivering great health benefits.

The Nundle Community Development Committee's next project is to replace the faulty barbecue and picnic shelters at the park, and I am sure that any State Government assistance would be greatly welcomed by this proactive town. Nundle is a terrific example of what a small community can accomplish by working together. If only every small town had the same drive and determination to continually improve.

Dr ANDREW McDONALD (Macquarie Fields—Parliamentary Secretary) [2.10 p.m.]: I congratulate the member for Tamworth on bringing the achievements of the people of Nundle to the attention of the House. Billy Smith is a hero and deserves the thanks of all who live with him. I hope that the recognition by Getaway will aid tourism. The playground deserves to become a major drawcard for the town. I congratulate the Nundle Community Development Committee on its work to date and wish it the best for the future.

Private members' statements concluded.

[The Deputy-Speaker left the chair at 2.11 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.]