Central Lakes Trust’s (CLT) announce the addition of Vocational Scholarships to its already popular scholarship programme.
Scholarships are for individuals wishing to commence their first year full-time tertiary, apprenticeship or vocational training in 2020. Each scholarship is to the value of $2,500.
Grants to the tune of $1.5 million have been dished out at Central Lakes Trust’s latest board meeting, including the long-awaited Luggate Hall, a series of operational grants to community groups, and a handful of emergency COVID-19 grants.
The Board approved a grant of $750,000 towards the new hall build, a total of 18% of the project cost.
‘Shovel-ready’ was key to inspecting progress at the new surgical hospital under construction on land adjoining Queenstown Country Club off the Frankton – Ladies Mile Highway.
From left, Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult joined Chris Fleming CEO of the Southern DHB (SDHB), Central Lakes Trust (CLT) CEO, Susan Finlay, and Terry Moore CEO of the Southern Cross Health Trust (SCHT) to view progress made on the joint venture between Southern Cross Hospital Trust and Central Lakes Trust, to invest in a much-awaited new surgical hospital for the region.
Central Lakes Trust steps up to fund gaps in school funding due to COVID-19.
Schools often rely on gaming machine or other community funding to supplement the costs of extracurricular activities. In the absence of this funding over the past few months, due to COVID-19, a one-off Central Lakes Trust initiative has been created.
“Demand for services such as budgeting support, senior citizens groups, meals on wheels, crisis and long term counselling are seeing increased demand due to the effects of COVID-19. The social service organisations providing these services are but a few of the groups that have been bolstered by trust funding this grants round,” says Trust Chief Executive, Susan Finlay.
The trust approved over $1million worth of largely operational grants and say that funds for social services are not new to the trust.
Central Lakes Trust board met remotely last Monday to approve 12 grants in what was the last board meeting of the trust’s financial year.
The trusts annual grants budget was $9.10m to the 31st March 2020 with a 5% contingency. This final round of grants takes the total grants approved for this financial year to $9.54m, this includes year two of the five year tracks and trails commitment.
Trust Chair, Linda Robertson announces, “Despite a challenging investment environment, the board has approved a grant budget of $9.4 million for the 2020/21 financial year to support charitable organisations through these difficult times ahead.”
“As we face the challenges of the COVID-19 virus together, we know there will be a growing impact on those charitable organisations we fund. This will present challenges in terms of both the type of need, and the increase in community need for funds," says Trust Chief Executive, Susan Finlay.
We would like to reassure all grantees and community groups that are recipients of our funding, either currently or for future applications, that we have plans in place to enable us to continue our operations uninterrupted in light of COVID-19. We are continuing to accept applications, make decisions, and make payments. We will however be changing how we operate to help keep everyone safe and healthy and will be providing ongoing updates on our website and Facebook page.
The new Central Lakes Trust board met for their first grants meeting since elections were held late last year.
“Less grant applications over the summer period have conveniently allowed the trust to ease our new trustees into their governance roles. The trust approved $184,632 in this funding round,” says Trust Chair, Linda Robertson.
Voting is closing for the Central Lakes Trust elections. Voter turnout to date is the highest it’s been since the 2010 elections.
“People are really taking this seriously, I’ve been really encouraged by the amount of people that have taken the initiative to vote and make a difference in their community. It is such a small thing to do, but has such a large impact,” says CLT Chief Executive, Susan Finlay.
Fifty students from 5 secondary schools were presented tertiary education scholarships at an official awards function held in Cromwell on the 29 October. The scholarships, which are valued at $2,500 each, aim to assist students who study at a tertiary institution.
New to this year’s awards ceremony was the addition of eight Pioneer Energy Science and Technology Scholarships, with 42 Central Lakes Trust scholarships also awarded.
Nominations closed for the Central Lakes Trust elections with a record number of candidates putting their name forward for election to the board.
“25 candidates from across the central lakes region have been nominated to stand for the board,” says Chief Executive, Susan Finlay. “Since the commencement of the trust in 2000, there has never been a larger number of nominees.”
Central Lakes Trust (CLT), have today confirmed that their joint venture with Southern Cross Hospitals will invest in a much-awaited new surgical hospital located in Queenstown known as Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital.
The site of the hospital has been confirmed as land adjoining Queenstown Country Club, on Frankton – Ladies Mile Highway.
It seems apt, energy company owner, Central Lakes Trust will support the replica construction of the Bullendale Phoenix Mining Company's hydro electric power plant, which saw the first commercial use of electricity in New Zealand in 1886 in the remote high country north of the former Skippers settlement.
Wakatipu Heritage Trust are to construct a replica of the powerhouse structure, and restore and preserve the surviving equipment, at the remote site. This power plant, was perhaps the inspiration for the subsequent establishment of the Teviot Electric Power Board and the Otago Central Electric Power Board, assets of which were bestowed to Central Lakes Trust in 2000.
Pioneer Energy reaches milestone of over $100 million in dividends back to owner and local community funder, Central Lakes Trust (CLT).
Pioneer Energy forms a significant portion of CLT investment portfolio at 35%. The Trust has a diversified portfolio of investments, but has retained 100% ownership of the energy company since inception in 2000.
Old Cromwell Incorporated’s restoration project of the McNulty House receives $233,747 for the earthquake strengthening and restoration of this Heritage NZ listed building.
“The majority of the house will be set up to display how a family lived in the area in the 1880's and will be open daily to the public. The rear of the building will be functional storage and meeting space for the society,” says Chair, Helen Scoles, who goes onto to say “the meeting space will be made available to other community groups.”
