Blayney Shire Council’s general manager, Andrew Roach, made the claim as he spoke to dignitaries and about 100 Blayney high and primary school students who had just finished feasting on free sausage sandwiches as part of the event.

A Mouse House is a timber-lined cylinder, large enough to walk through, which rotates by walking or running inside it.

State member for Bathurst Gerard Martin officially unveiled the plaque with acting mayor Cr Susan Wilson.

Mr Martin said: “Lithgow and Bathurst can take a leaf out of your book, Blayney, for this great facility.”

Blayney Public School pupil, Paige Delaney, 8, said the Mouse House was her favourite: “I come down here lots of times.”

The park has passive and active recreation areas including a climbing gym, swings, flying fox, sand pit, giant chess game, fenced dog off-leash area and wetlands.

It will cost $500,000 when completed – extra barbecues and car parking spaces are still on the to-do list.

Country Energy will install lighting and sponsor a film festival to be screened in the amphitheatre in February.

Cadia mines and Nestle Purina donated $50,000 each to the park project with other Blayney district companies giving $100,000. The rest of the funds came from Council’s government grants and section 94 development contributions.