(Community Recognition Statement, 4.20pm 14 November 2013, Legislative Assembly, NSW Parliament)

I commend the Pyrmont Ultimo Landcare group. Since 1996 this group of community-minded people has been working to reinstate and landscape their precinct with indigenous plants and creating colourful havens for wildlife in green areas within the largely hard surfaces of the inner city.

The area has faced massive redevelopment over the past decade or two and the group is transforming it with an entirely new residential community. The group has redeveloped land along Saunders Street, Pyrmont, and is now working on the light rail corridor, creating an area for native birds, butterflies, lizards and other native wildlife by replacing weeds with local plants. The group includes the Pyrmont Garden Club, which looks after small gardens, planting flowers and shrubs to brighten up the area. The work of these residents is inspiring. It helps to recreate precious open green space, brings people together on common projects, and improves their local area and the wider inner-city environment.