The new Cromwell Memorial Hall and Events Centre, has been awarded the biggest chunk of the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) final funding round for the 2024-25 financial year, with $1.1 million awarded to fund the fit-out of its museum.
The museum will feature a mini-theatre for showing archival footage, along with displays chronicling the area’s past, from prehistoric moas to the miners who shaped its development.
At the trust’s March meeting, another significant grant of $313,459 was awarded to the Queenstown Trails Trust. This funding will support the construction of a new off-road cycling and walking track between Jacks Point and Frankton. According to an analysis of New Zealand Transport Statistics, about 380 commuters are expected to use the trail daily, with that number projected to grow by 8.75% annually. The trail will also serve as a recreational route.
The CLT grants are designed to provide support for projects that promote cultural, recreational and community development across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes regions.
The remainder of the total $2,609,654 of CLT funds in the round were dispersed to 15 other charitable organisations in the region.
In addition to the major grants, CLT allocated $70,000 to the Dunstan Equestrian Centre (DEC) for the construction of a new toilet block. The DEC, which shares its Clyde location with the Central Otago Riding for the Disabled, Clyde Pony Club and Dunstan Adult Riding Club, will benefit from the facility’s upgraded amenities. The new block will feature two outdoor toilets accessible to both club members and the public, as well as two additional toilets, a shower and a changing room for permitted users.
The Trust also supported the local music scene, granting $23,066 to the YAMI SouNZ Summit in Wānaka. The funds will cover the cost of sound, lighting, and technician hire for the event, which will bring together emerging musicians for a weekend of masterclasses, workshops and networking opportunities.
The summit will feature professional musicians, tutors, and industry experts from both New Zealand and Australia.— APL
