Grant secured for Roys Peak communication facility
9 Apr 2018
The Otago Community Trust was pleased to provide a $66,500 grant to the Upper Clutha Radio Telephone Users Association (UCRTUA) in its first donation round for 2018.
The Wanaka community group has been seeking funding to upgrade the communications facility on Roys Peak, which provides important VHF communication for several organisations such as the local LANDSAR, the coastguard and the Department of Conservation, as well as coverage for emergency call outs.
UCRTUA spokesperson Ian Galloway said a lightning strike on the facility in early February put the 5km long power cable to the site totally out of commission.
“Repairing the cable, which was installed around 35 years ago, was deemed uneconomic and our association is now desperately seeking funding to upgrade the facility for Upper Clutha community,” Galloway said.
“The grant from Otago Community Trust it is a great boost of assurance for us and has come at an ideal time, with a recent break-in causing damage to the repeater station, it is pleasing to receive some positive news”.
The association will now be working hard towards advancing the required upgrade before winter. It is hoped that completion could be reached before the end of May, but “this will be dependent on several factors, suitable weather conditions being just one” Galloway said.
The Upper Clutha Radio Telephone Users Association was established in November 1977. The association is run by a dedicated group of volunteers and has around 78 members. The association is proposing to power the facility through 24 solar panels with a back-up generator for the winter during inversion conditions or high snowfall.
Other major grants included $75,000 to the Alexandra Men’s Shed Trust to assist with constructing a new "Men's Shed"; $46,000 to the Alexandra Baptist Churchto assist with the cost of renovating the Church's building and a $45,000 grant was awarded to support the 2018 NZ International Science Festival.
Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger said the trust was also delighted to approve a $10,000 grant for the 2018 National Youth Development Conference.
The conference provides a space where youth and youth sector representatives can come together to connect, share, learn, grow and celebrate diversity and strengths, Bridger explains.
Held in Wellington this year from the 13th to 15th of August, the $10,000 grant from Otago Community Trust will enable up to ten young people from Otago to attend the conference.
The Otago Community Trust gave a total of $557,944 to 44 community organisations in March.
|
Otago Community Trust Donations, March 2018 |
||
|
Alexandra |
Central Otago District Council - Vincent Community Board |
7,900 |
|
|
Life Education Trust Heartland Otago Southland |
8,200 |
|
|
Alexandra and Districts Youth Trust |
10,000 |
|
|
Alexandra Baptist Church |
46,000 |
|
|
Alexandra Men's Shed Trust |
75,000 |
|
Balclutha |
Catlins Medical Centre (2017) Ltd |
821 |
|
Dunedin |
Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon & Cage Bird Club |
300 |
|
|
Progress of Waikouaiti Area |
700 |
|
|
NZ Paramedic Education & Research Charitable Trust |
1,200 |
|
|
Southern Ice Hockey League |
1,500 |
|
|
Poems in the Waiting Room (NZ) |
1,553 |
|
|
OUSA Vintage and Swing Society |
2,000 |
|
|
East Otago Musical Theatre Incorporated |
3,000 |
|
|
Arcade Theatre Trust |
4,000 |
|
|
Choirs Aotearoa NZ Trust |
5,000 |
|
|
Community Colleges NZ Ltd |
5,000 |
|
|
St Francis Xavier School |
5,200 |
|
|
Dunedin Friend-Link Trust |
6,000 |
|
|
Lions Club of Balmacewen Inc |
6,300 |
|
|
Dunedin Opera Company Inc (Opera Otago) |
8,000 |
|
|
SADD Aotearoa |
8,000 |
|
|
Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust |
10,000 |
|
|
Disability Information Service Inc |
11,000 |
|
|
Friends of the Globe Theatre Inc |
20,000 |
|
|
Musical Theatre Dunedin Inc |
20,000 |
|
|
Pillars Incorporated |
25,000 |
|
|
Dunedin Rugby Football Club Inc |
26,000 |
|
|
Community Employment |
29,000 |
|
|
International Festival Environment Science Technology |
45,000 |
|
Oamaru |
Omarama Gliding Club (Inc) |
1,000 |
|
|
Awamoa Gardens Croquet Club |
1,500 |
|
|
North Otago Scout Zone |
5,000 |
|
|
Steampunk NZ Trust |
6,000 |
|
|
Musical Theatre Oamaru Inc |
15,000 |
|
|
Otematata Residents Assoc Inc |
15,000 |
|
Otago |
Otago Biodynamic Community Trust |
2,000 |
|
|
Young and Hungry Arts Trust |
2,500 |
|
|
TalkLink Trust |
3,423 |
|
|
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand |
4,000 |
|
|
Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand |
5,000 |
|
|
National Youth Development Conference |
10,000 |
|
|
Ronald McDonald House Charities NZ |
17,007 |
|
Wanaka |
Wanaka Preschool Early Childhood Centre |
12,340 |
|
|
Upper Clutha Radio Telephone Users Association Incorporated |
66,500 |