KEY POINTS:
A Mosgiel man has received an environmentalist award for his efforts to clean up a local eyesore.
Lester Harvey was this week named the first Fonterra Environmentalist of the Year at a ceremony in the Beehive.
The dairy giant and Keep New Zealand Beautiful Society have jointly created the award, which will be presented annually to a volunteer who has made a significant contribution to improving his/her local environment.
Harvey's efforts in cleaning up the 10km-long railway embankment from Wingatui to Riccarton Road southwest of Dunedin saw him chosen from a large group of volunteers representing the Society's 50 regional programmes.
For the past eight years, the septuagenarian has worked 25 hours a week on the project, which has seen more than 280 cubic metres of soil deposited to level the ground and over 6,000 plants sown.
To recognise his dedication, Fonterra will donate $5,000 to a community-based environmental project of his choice.
Fonterra staff also help to clear up rubbish from around roadsides, sports fields, parks and beaches as part of Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up Week campaign.
