Community Board first funding rounds for 2023-24

Central Otago’s community boards have allocated a number of community and promotions funding grants at their September meetings in the first of two funding rounds for the 2023-24 financial year.

At the meeting on Thursday 14 September 2023, the Maniototo Community Board agreed to allocate:

Community Grants

• Maniototo Early Settlers Association Inc – $8,300 for annual operating costs.
• Naseby Information Centre – $4,000 for contribution to operational costs.

Promotions Grants

Naseby Vision Inc applied for $5,000 to design and install an information sign for the town. However, given the fact that the total funding available for the year in the Maniototo promotions grant scheme was $5,000, and that it was only round one, it was decided to allocate $2,500 to the applicant. Annually, there is $15,000 to distribute in the community grants scheme.

At the meeting on Wednesday 13 September 2023, the Cromwell Community Board agreed to allocate:

Community Grants

• Bannockburn Bowling Club – $10,000 grant to the towards upgrading an existing kitchen.

The Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust (recently rebranded Southern Lakes Trust) applied for a $10,686.38 grant to offset the cost of a peer review in connection with their resource consent application for the Kawarau Gorge Trail. The Central Otago District Council funding grants staff had recommended the group receive $7686. While acknowledging that the trails benefitted the Cromwell community, the Board declined the funding application and requested that the grant be brought to Council, to recognise the value to the wider district that the cycle trail network offers.

Promotion Grants

• Dare 2 Sweat Events – $4,000 grant towards marketing and promotion the Spirited Women Adventure Race in February 2024 from the promotions grants budget.
• Arts Central – $1,500 towards costs for advertising and promotion of the Arts Central Exhibition 2024.

At the meeting on Tuesday 5 September, the Vincent Community Board agreed to allocate:

Community Grants

• Alexandra District Museum Inc – $82,000 towards annual operating costs.
• Alexandra and Districts Youth Trust – $6,000 to the towards rental costs.
• Alexandra and District Pipe Band Inc – $2,500 towards hall hire.
• Community of Learning – Dunstan Kāhui Ako – $1,710 to the to be used for transport from Poolburn and Omakau only. This will be a one-off grant.
• Up-Cycles Charitable Trust – $1,000 to towards the purchase of parts and equipment.

Promotions Grants

• Prospector Race Ltd – $5,500 to the towards the costs for video creation, digital advertising, targeted advertising and working with Australian MTB publications to host journalist/s for the Prospector MTB 2024 events.
• Central Otago A&P Association – $1,750 to the for the 126th Central Otago A&P Show for Childrens Entertainment.

Declined the application from the Alexandra Musical Society due to demands on the grants pool.

At the meeting on Thursday 7 September, the Teviot Valley Community Board agreed to allocate:

Community Grants

• Roxburgh Pioneer Energy Brass Band Inc – $2,000 to the towards operational costs.
• Dunstan Kāhui Ako – $274 to the for transport for the Millers Flat School to attend the Arts Festival.

Promotions Grants

• Roxburgh Entertainment Centre Improvement and Promotions Inc – $960 to the towards the cost of new signage.