Grants over $60,000 were approved yesterday (Wednesday September 28) with local education, community, sport and health services all benefitting.   

Community grant applications were considered by the Central Otago District Council from five groups, including the Life Education Trust which was seeking help to subsidise its school programme. 

Delivering the Life Education programme to young people cost $21 per student, with schools paying $4 per student toward that. The group received $3,000 yesterday.

Elderly people struggling with having to use technology for essential tasks like paying bills was the focus of an application from Central Otago Budgeting Services.

Council were told that with cheque books gone, bank’s opening hours reduced and lots of day to day functions now reliant on phone apps, some older people found it very difficult to adapt.

The budgeting service often carpooled to Roxburgh and Cromwell to see clients, used meeting places that were free like Cromwell Community House and also did home visits assisting anyone, in learning to use technology and getting tasks done.

Four staff worked part-time and extra hours done were considered as voluntary work.  

Council commended the work in supporting people, some of whom were likely to have mobility issues as an extra barrier to getting things done. Three and half thousand dollars was granted to help cover travel, printing, meals and wages. 

Central Otago Health Incorporated, which looks after the community’s interests in Dunstan Hospital, was granted $7,556 as a contribution to administrative costs and Dunstan Kahui Ako received $4,115.50 to help transport children from outlying areas to an upcoming historical and cultural exhibition.  

The funds would also go toward food being provided to welcome people at the week-long exhibition's opening function in Alexandra.

Sport Otago, which has grown and now has three staff based in Central Otago, received $42,555.50 toward its operational funding.   

Funds for this financial-year’s annual grants had previously been allocated to the Central Otago District Arts Trust and Central Otago Heritage Trust. This had left $60,727 in the funding pool which was all issued yesterday, removing the need for a second round of applications.

Each of Central Otago’s four community boards have grant pools for both community and promotional grants for its area, funded using targeted rates. Yesterday’s district-wide community grants are funded through the district general rate. 

There is no district-wide promotional grants pool, however work is underway on an events strategy which may explore this, according to a report presented to council yesterday. 

Cavalcade cancellation a blow

Having issued promotional-type funds in the past may pave the way for council to assist the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust (OGHT) to gain post-Covid financial help, something the group say is much needed.

The cancellation of the 2021 cavalcade, which was to have ended in Millers Flat, had been a huge blow to the organisation, with no event insurance available to cover considerable losses, projects manager Terry Davis told council during a public forum.

A decision on whether to allocate money to the group was delayed, as monies may need to be sourced from council reserve funds. During a special meeting to be held next Thursday afternoon, staff would clarify the council’s wider financial position to elected members. This would in turn allow a decision on OGHT’s application.

Final resolutions, including yesterday's funding decisions, would not be officially released by council until after the Thursday meeting, a council spokesperson advised.