A five-year labour of love by the Rotary Club of Dunedin won the major award at this week’s Keep Dunedin Beautiful Awards.
The West Harbour Recreation Trail project, in which club members, volunteers and Taskforce Green workers planted native shrubs, installed equipment and spread tonnes of wood chips along a 2.3km stretch of the shared pathway, earned the club the community pride award at Monday’s ceremony.
The award for individual effort went to Waikouaiti girl Jorja Hay (9) for her dedication to recycling and waste reduction and her advocacy on environmental issues in the area.
Jorja was supported in her efforts by Ann Charlotte, of Waikouaiti.
The best corporate project award went to Bunnings Warehouse for the efforts of its staff and for donating plants and landscaping materials to beautify the laneway behind BP Andersons Bay Rd.
The efforts of dozens of local groups and individuals to enhance the cityscape were acknowledged at the award ceremony.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the ‘‘extraordinary’’ range of nominations for the awards showed the enormous amount of voluntary effort made across the community.
Among the many projects nominated for awards were community clean-ups, recycling efforts, environmental events, native shrub plantings, community gardens, murals and landscaping, track maintenance, art installations, and more.
Speaking after the ceremony, Rotary Club of Dunedin West Harbour Recreation Trail project leader Darrel Robinson said it was a great honour for the club to receive the community pride award.
‘‘It wouldn’t have been possible without the input of a great many people, both within the club and the community,’’ he said.
He paid tribute to the Taskforce Green team for its major efforts.
Keep Dunedin Beautiful Awards judging panel member Paul Pope said the West Harbour Recreation Trail project was a ‘‘standout’’ project.
‘‘It has been great to see it come to fruition and it is a tremendous asset to the city.’’
It was great to see so many children and young people represented in the award nominations, he said.
