Youth ambassador
Six local teenagers with a wide range of goals were provided grants as part of the board’s annual Youth Ambassador Awards.
After listening to presentations from the teenagers, funds were awarded to six students with ambitions as varied as search and rescue, athletics, cross-country running, triathlon, hip-hop dance, netball and golf.
Top recipient was Eve Kelleher who received $1000 towards her ongoing sporting development.
Funds were also granted to students Eva McLean ($750), Brooklyn Wright ($200), Charlee Farquhar ($200), Hanna Cowan ($200) and Connor Howes ($100).
Bereavement group
The Saddle Hill Community Board has granted $750 to Dunedin-based charitable trust A Star is Born.
The trust provides free remembrance packages such as photographs as well as hand and feet casting to bereaved families who have experienced a neonatal or early postnatal death of their baby.
Trustee Jennie Waide said the funds would go to towards costs of trustees attending a conference for those who work in the sphere of baby bereavement.
This would be the first time the trustees were able to attend a national conference in Wellington, allowing them to learn about the up-to-date practices and resources available in the field, enabling continued effective and efficient running of the service they provide to bereaved families.
Funds for speedway
The board has granted $5000 to Beachlands Speedway towards costs for a new control tower.
Beachlands Speedway president Matt Stewart said the estimated build cost was about $120,000 and about $90,000 had been raised so far.
The tower would be built using repurposed shipping containers and would also incorporate a new first aid room where paramedics would be able to treat not only drivers but also members of the public who attended events.
Mr Stewart said the volunteer-run organisation worked to give back to the community.
When it was not used for races it hosted community events such as the Greater Green Island school cross-country.
The speedway recently provided the venue to the New Zealand Police for a training exercise that included search and rescue, building clearing and hostage negotiation training.
It also worked with emergency services including fire brigades which had conducted exercises such as car extraction jaws of life training.
The organisation also raised funds for charities — it recently gave more than $7000 to mental health charity I Am Hope.
Funds for water fountain
The board has granted up to $1190 towards costs of installing a drinking water fountain near the Fairfield Hall and skatepark.
Board member Scott Weatherall said the idea was first suggested more than 20 years ago and there would be a community benefit in providing one.
There would be some investigation about what the cost of the fountain would be. If it was more than the allocated funds, the board could potentially vote to provide more funds in the next financial year, he said.
Support for Sunnyvale
The board has agreed to write a letter of support for the Sunnyvale Community Centre’s submission to the Dunedin City Council’s draft nine-year plan.
Stepping aside from his board role to speak on behalf of the community centre, John Moyle said the centre was seeking service-level support from the council.
The community centre had previously received about $40,000 to $50,000 per year but that had now lapsed.
One of the reasons for asking for resuming support was part of the building dating from the 1970s had out-of-date panelling that was no longer deemed suitable, which had increased insurance on the building from about $23,000 to $60,000 per year.
"That is now draining our resources," Mr Moyle said.
The centre had already had discussions with the council and had provided a long submission to the draft nine-year plan but was also seeking support from individuals, local schools, sports organisations and the community board.
