After a rigorous application process and whirlwind visit from judges in August, three Upper Hunter towns were announced as finalists in the 2012 Tidy Towns Sustainable Community awards.

Merriwa Railway Station Restoration project has made the final cut in the cultural heritage category while the village of Wingen is one of the front runners in the ‘new town’ category. 

Murrurundi submitted several entries again this year for the King of the Ranges event, Adopt a Spot waste management project and the Murrurundi and District Historical Society’s church exhibition space project. 

The space will be used for the exhibition “Who’s been sleeping in my town during Saturday’s Frontier Festival.

“It’s a lovely exhibition space,” Murrurundi Historical Society president Geoffrey Field said.

“It’s the result of a lot of work from the community.

This year Murrurundi is a finalist in the Waste Management and Litter Reduction Award and the Overall Town award for a population 351 to 1200.

Upper Hunter Shire mayor Michael Johnsen said he was not surprised the three towns had done so well. 

“These results are a reflection of the strong community that we have.

“It is great to see so many community members and volunteers that have worked so hard, be recognised and rewarded for their efforts to improve and promote their towns.

“They have set an example to us all,” Cr Johnsen said.

The winners will be announced in November at the Tidy Towns awards in Kyogle.