The Cromwell Community Board meeting yesterday (Tuesday August 1) was very brief, with only one item on the agenda other than the mayor’s, chair’s and members’ reports, and the August Governance Report. 

That item was the transfer of grant funding of $8,580 to build a community tool shed from the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust to the Mōkihi Reforestation Trust.

At its meeting on October 19, 2021, the Cromwell Community Board approved the grant to the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust to establish a community tool shed for the Cromwell area so groups and members could borrow tools to support projects to improve the environment and recreation areas. Funding of $8,580 was carried forward for the purpose of the grant since it was awarded in the 2021/22 financial year.

Staff informed the board that Megan Phillips of the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust had been supporting the project but the trust was no longer in a position to finalise the project. It sought permission from the board to transfer the grant funding to the Mōkihi Reforestation Trust to take over and complete the project. The Mōkihi Reforestation Trust is a community driven native plants forest restoration group based in Cromwell. 

It was proposed that the community tool shed be established near McNulty Inlet, Cromwell. 

“It seems pretty straightforward,” board chairwoman Anna Harrison said.

Board member Bob Scott asked: “Do we have a line of connection for that trust for other groups to get in touch to use the tools?”

He was reassured that the Mōkihi Reforestation Trust was well-connected within the community.

The board agreed to the transfer of the grant.

Individual reports were received from mayor Tim Cadogan, Anna as chair, and other board members, and the board also received the August Governance Report before setting Monday, September 11 as the date for its next meeting. 

The public and media were then excluded from the meeting, with the process completed in a little over half an hour.