$1.8m grant awarded to Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network

Media Release

The Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust has received a significant boost from the latest round of grants from the Otago Community Trust.

The Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust was awarded a grant totalling $1,845,789 to support the five-stage development project which will link the Central Otago trail network. This brings the Trust’s total support of this project to $2m. 

The trail will be part of the $26 million New Zealand Cycle Trail Project to build 536km of trails connecting Cromwell to Clyde and the Otago Central Rail Trail and connecting Queenstown via the Kawarau Gorge Trail, in addition to extending the network north to Wanaka. In August $13m of government funding was confirmed for the project with Central Lakes Trust contributing the other $11m.

Otago Community Trust Chair Ross McRobie said the Trust has supported the region’s cycle ways for many years in recognition that cycle ways provide employment opportunities and economic benefits to the local communities they serve. 

“Estimates predict that the number of people riding the trail will more than double over the next 10 to 12 years. We see that this project will provide employment opportunities and ensure the sustained growth of our regional towns”.

The Trust was also pleased to award its second grant to the Waikouaiti District Museum Soc Inc at its September board meeting. Having awarded $100,000 in 2017 to the capital project, the Trust approved a further $50,000 to support the fitout of the new museum.

A $20,000 grant was awarded to Stage South Charitable Trust to support a ‘Farewell to the Fortune Theatre' gala event. Producer Karen Elliot explains that a passionate group of Dunedin theatre professionals have come together to coordinate a ‘big, brash, joyful, 'old-fashioned' theatre event in Dunedin’. 

The gala event will be held over two nights and will consist of 20 to 30 minute excerpts from four of the most popular productions ever presented at the Fortune, said Elliot.

This gala tribute will celebrate the past and acknowledge the future role of professional theatre in Dunedin.  The event gives the organisers the opportunity to thank those associated with the Fortune, in particular the huge numbers of volunteers, said Otago Community Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger. 

Other grants included $30,000 to theRoyal NZ Pipe Band Assoc - Otago Centre which will assist with the hosting of the 2019 National Pipe Band Championship at the University Oval in Dunedin; $24,000 to the Milton Community Health Trust supporting the delivery of ongoing community services; $20,000 to Kaitangata Black Gold BMX Club to assist with the cost of purchasing new safety BMX start gates and a $10,000 grant to the Acts of Kindness Charitable Trust for the delivery of their community events calendar. 

The Otago Community Trust gave a total of $2,118,689 to 21 community organisations for September 2018.

 

Otago Community Trust Community Donations, September 2018
Balclutha	Gore Women's Refuge Inc	$20,000
	Clinton Golf Club Inc	$12,500
	Kaitangata Black Gold BMX Club	$20,000
Cromwell	Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust	$1,845,789
Dunedin	Waikouaiti District Museum Soc Inc	$50,000
	Stage South Charitable Trust	$20,000
	Daniel Belton and Good Company	$16,000
	Royal NZ Pipe Band Assoc - Otago Centre	$30,000
	Otago Polytechnic - Pacific Island Scholarships	$10,000
	WellSouth Primary Health Network	$1,500
	Acts of Kindness Charitable Trust	$10,000
	Hygiene For Homeless	$500
	Taieri Musical Society Inc	$10,000
	Kaikorai Grays Sport & Travel Inc	$1,500
	The Brain Injury Assn (Otago) Inc	$3,300
	Athletics Otago Inc	$9,000
Milton	Milton Community Health Trust	$24,000
	Simpson Park Sporting Complex Inc	$15,500
Mosgiel	Mosgiel Coronation Hall Development Trust	$1,500
Oamaru	North Otago Pony Club Inc	$16,000
Otago	Show Me Shorts Film Festival Trust	$1,600