Central Lakes Trust (CLT) today announce the names of 50 students from across five secondary schools each receiving a scholarship valued at $2,500 for further education in 2022.

The announcement comes in lieu of what would normally be an official awards ceremony held each year on the Tuesday following Labour weekend.

CLT chair Linda Robertson says, “Cancelling our scholarship ceremony was a difficult decision, it wasn’t made lightly, but regrettably due to current COVID alert level 2 restrictions, the logistics of bringing together 50 students and their parents, from multiple schools wasn’t going to work in terms of maintaining social distancing.”

The new independent hospital for the Central Lakes region is on track to open before the end of this year. Providing an update on progress today Terry Moore the Chair of the Southern Cross CLT Limited joint venture said that despite the challenges caused by the various COVID lockdowns, excellent progress had been made and the hospital was on track to be handed over from the developer, Queenstown Commercial, before Christmas. “We are extremely pleased with the progress made in all the circumstances. The hospital will be completed and fully equipped prior to the Christmas holidays and we will spend a few weeks over the holiday period ensuring everything is in place and working ready to start operations during January.” Mr Moore said

Central Lakes Trust’s (CLT) September grants round saw close to $1.5 million granted to charitable organisations, including $700,000 towards the establishment of an arts and cultural facility, Te Atamira in Queenstown Lakes.

The $4.2 million dollar project to establish an arts and cultural facility for the community is ‘now another step closer’ says Te Atamira development director Olivia Egerton, who is delighted with confirmation of this significant grant from a major funder.

The Board of Central Lakes Trust is pleased to announce Hetty Van Hale’s reappointment for a second three-year term commencing 1 December 2021 says Trust chair, Linda Robertson.

Ms Robertson says, “Hetty has over 25 year’s governance experience on boards covering a broad industry range, and she has a strong history of volunteering for community organisations and events over this time, having lived in the central lakes region since 1995.”

A Central Lakes Trust (CLT) grant will assist in building a much needed service hub for the Wakatipu region, says Salvation Army’s, Jade Zeina.

$350,000 was granted to Salvation Army at the Trust’s recent board meeting, held Monday 16 August, one of 15 grants approved at the meeting to a total value of $620,075.

“We are all over the moon with the funding and feeling extremely grateful,” Ms Zeina says.

Central Lakes Trust, whose trustees visited the dilapidated Roxburgh pool in late March, last week granted $920,766 towards bringing the new Roxburgh pool to fruition.

Grants Manager Mat Begg says, “Roxburgh desperately needs a modern, safe swimming complex where kids can have fun and learn to be safe in the water and everyone can swim or participate in aquatic exercise. Sixteen years in the making, Roxburgh can hopefully look forward to a new public swimming pool sooner rather than later.”

Central Lakes Trust (CLT) grant $1.75 million to the further development of the cycle trails linking the great rides of New Zealand with the latest round of funding, marking year four of a five year grant commitment.

Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust (COQTNT) chair Stephen Jeffery says, “The completed Lake Dunstan Trail is stage one of five to establish an additional 170 kilometres of trail linking Queenstown and Wanaka to existing New Zealand Cycle Trails.”

A ceremony held today at Carrick Winery celebrated the opening of Central Otago’s newest cycle trail, the Lake Dunstan Cycle and Walking Trail.

A blessing of the trail followed by Minster of Tourism, Hon. Stuart Nash alongside Central Otago Queenstown Trails Trust (COQTNT) patron, Sir Eion Edgar saw the cutting of the ribbon across the trail to mark the official opening. This will be followed by a public grand opening and trail ride on Saturday 8 May.

Central Lakes Trust (CLT) closes its 20th financial year, 31 March 2021, having granted $9.45 million into the Central Lakes community, the largest amount granted in any one financial year the Trust has operated.

Trust chair, Linda Robertson says, “Prudent investment has allowed CLT to maintain a healthy and growing grants budget. It is however the community members that drive the projects and causes we see across the board table and it is these groups that enable the Trust to meaningfully contribute to charitable causes at the heart of the community’s needs.”

Central Lakes Trust (CLT) have granted over $400K to 16 charitable organisations in the first grants meeting this calendar year.

Cromwell Lions Club are set to upgrade the local community van with funding from the Trust. For 12 years Cromwell Lions Club alongside Central Otago Motor Group, have been providing a safe transport option for small community groups to travel to various sports, cultural and other community events.

Lake Dunstan Cycling and Walking Trail scheduled to open at the end of March, is to be delayed by additional rock face work required to complete the last 100 metre stretch of the trail.

Stephen Jeffery, Chair of Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust says, “We anticipated opening the trail close to the end of March. Unfortunately, to err on the side of caution, we will have a few extra weeks delay to complete additional work required on the last remaining 30 metres of rock face located at Double Duck Bluff.

Back into the swing of things, our local funders are coming together once again in a series of combined funding clinics to be held throughout Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes throughout 2021.

Representatives from Central Lakes Trust, DIA, and Southern Trust, with either Community Trust South, or Otago Community Trust, and a CODC or QLDC representative, form the group of funders in attendance at the combined clinics.

Central Lakes Trust (CLT) appoint new trustee, Kathy Grant, effective 1 December 2020.

Grant’s appointment replaces Michael Sidey who stepped down after completing a three year term on the board.

Susan Finlay, Chief Executive of Central Lakes Trust presents Volunteer South’s Gillian White with a $2,000 cheque for funds raised during the recent Nigel Latta ‘Resilience’ tour through Central Lakes held during October.

Entry to the three community events was a gold coin donation at the door, with all proceeds going to Volunteer South – Central Lakes.

In what is the last grants round for the calendar year, Central Lakes Trust have granted a significant $1.8 million to 34 organisations throughout Central Lakes.

The grant recipients are from a cross section of sectors, with operational and programme funding for the 2021 year receiving the largest share at $1.67 million of the total granted; with youth, a sector recently reviewed and prioritised by the Trust receiving just under $1 million.

Fifty students from five secondary schools were presented scholarships at an official awards function held in Cromwell on the 27th October. The scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, aim to assist student’s in further education beyond secondary school.

New to this year’s awards ceremony was the addition of vocational scholarships.

Thirty young Central Otago females will hit the local mountain bike trails weekly before the end of the month participating in a Central Otago based outdoor adventure programme.

The Journeys Charitable Trust received a $25K grant from Central Lakes Trust for Journeys Central Otago next 18 months. The programme uses the challenge of various activities in accessible local outdoor 'wild' areas to develop skills and knowledge which enhance wellbeing, resilience, self-worth and belief of young female participants aged between 12 – 15.

Central Lakes Trust in association with Pioneer Energy announce Nigel Latta’s community resilience tour through Central Lakes.

“2020 has been a tough year, there is no doubt about it,” says CLT chief executive, Susan Finlay. “Central Lakes as a region has perhaps done it especially tough.”

Dr Don Elder and Tony Balfour have been appointed as Directors of Pioneer Energy Limited, at the Annual General Meeting held last Monday 21 September.

The appointment was announced by Linda Robertson, Chair of Central Lakes Trust, owner of Pioneer Energy.

The category one listed heritage ‘barn’ at Paradise will be looking all that more idyllic with the contribution of $173,280 for its restoration.

Central Lakes Trustees approved the grant at a Board meeting in August, as one of 11 grants approved by the Trust at a total value of almost $500,000.