New Ambulance Hub given further funding boost

30 Jun 2019

Media Release

The new $3.4 million ambulance hub in Cromwell received a further funding boost from the latest round of grants from the Otago Community Trust.

The Order of St John South Island Region was awarded a grant totalling $475,000 to support the new multimillion dollar hub. This is the project’s second significant grant in recent months, in May Central Lakes Trust confirmed $1.65 million towards the Cromwell development.

The new facility will be built to the highest category for a building’s seismic resilience, designed to withstand AF8 (Alpine Fault Magnitude 8) and continue to function operationally with minimal interruption to emergency ambulance services.

Otago Community Trust Chair Ross McRobie said St John provides emergency ambulance services to nearly 90% of New Zealanders in 97% of the country's geographic locations. For the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts where growth is a district-wide challenge ensuring we invest in emergency services is critical. 

“St John has recognised the need to future proof their operations in the region and our trustees see this new facility as an essential investment for the region's needs.”

Ashburn Hall Charitable Trust received a $200,000 grant to assist with the major capital works programme that will upgrade Ashburn Clinic's ageing building stock. The capital works is estimated to cost over $8 million and will ensure Ashburn continues to play an integral part in improving the mental health and well-being of all New Zealanders.

The Trust was also pleased to award Iceinline Central a $90,000 capital project grant to support their two-rink curling facility development. Iceinline Central propose to build a dedicated covered curling rink comprising two lanes which will adjoin to the existing rink. The expansion of the facility will allow more ice time for clubs in the Central Otago area and will enable young players to continue their development.

The Pukehiki Church Trust on the Otago Peninsula received a $65,000 grant to assist with the cost of repair and restoration of their community church. The 151-year-old landmark has a Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Category 2 listing and is considered the oldest continually used Presbyterian Church of its type in the South Island.

Regional sporting bodies across Otago also received their regular annual funding from the Otago Community Trust in June.

“This year across 36 regional sporting bodies the Trust was able to approve $1,025,750, which was a slightly higher figure than last year ($969,750). A number of applicants received small increases in their funding levels” said Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger.

The Otago Community Trust approved just over $2.1 million to 67 organisations in June 2019.

 

Otago Community Trust Community Grants, June 2019

Alexandra

Iceinline Central Inc

90,000

Balclutha

Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau / Sinclair Wetlands

1,744

Cromwell

Order of St John South Island Region

475,000

Dunedin

Pukehiki Church Trust

65,000

 

St Hildas Collegiate School

39,500

 

Ashburn Hall Charitable Trust

200,000

 

North East Valley Community Development Project

25,000

 

Disability Information Service Inc

15,000

 

Pillars Incorporated

40,000

 

Spring Chamber Music

1,000

 

Footnote New Zealand Dance

2,700

 

Suitcase Theatre Trust

500

 

WILD Imaginings Children's Writers and Illustrators Hui

1,000

 

Dunedin Friend-Link Trust

6,000

 

Otago Equestrian Centre

2,500

Mosgiel

Taieri Competitions Society

1,000

Oamaru

Oamaru Opera House Charitable Trust

8,000

 

North Otago Art Society Inc

5,000

 

Awamoa Bowling Club Inc

1,960

Otago

Scout Assn of NZ - Otago Gang Show

13,350

 

Stroke Foundation of NZ

20,000

 

Crohn's & Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust

2,500

 

NZ Special Olympics Lower South Island Regional Council

8,000

 

Choirs Aotearoa NZ Trust

8,000

 

Pregnancy Counselling Services

2,300

 

Taki Rua Productions Society Inc

7,500

Roxburgh

Teviot Valley Tartan Time

1,000

Wanaka

Wanaka Search and Rescue Inc

11,000

 

Winter Games NZ Trust

50,000

 

Aspiring Athletes Club

5,000

 

New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance

2,500

 

Otago Community Trust Regional Sports Grants, June 2019

Alexandra

Mainland South BMX Assn Inc

12,000

Balclutha

Sport Clutha

22,000

Cromwell

Sport Central

30,000

 

Central Otago Hockey Assn

10,000

Dunedin

Otago Hockey Assn (1990) Inc

52,000

 

Otago Table Tennis Assn Inc

5,000

 

Basketball Otago Inc

60,000

 

Otago Cricket Assn Inc

60,500

 

Otago Rowing Association Inc

27,500

 

Dunedin Ice Skating Club Inc

12,500

 

Tennis Otago Incorporated

15,000

 

Otago Secondary Schools Sports Assn

28,000

 

Athletics Otago Inc

26,000

 

Football South

87,000

 

Sport Otago - Development in Central Otago

10,000

 

Otago Rugby Football Union Inc

55,000

 

Otago Rugby League Inc

18,000

 

Otago Touch Assn Inc

40,000

 

Sport Otago - Sport Development

25,000

 

Sport Otago - Community Coach Advisor

27,500

 

Sport Otago - Fundamental Skills

8,250

 

Cycling Otago

7,500

 

Otago Academy of Sport

35,000

 

Otago Softball Assn Inc

18,000

 

Parafed Otago

22,000

 

Otago Badminton Assn Inc

16,500

Oamaru

North Otago Rugby Football Union Inc

22,000

 

Sport Waitaki

22,000

Otago

Netball South Zone Inc

110,000

 

Sport Otago - Golf Development

27,500

 

Gymnastics New Zealand

7,000

 

Squash Otago Inc

27,500

 

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Inc

18,500

 

Swimming Otago

12,000

Ranfurly

NZ Curling Assn Inc

9,000

Wanaka

Snow Sports NZ Inc

40,000