Roxburgh Pool, Punawai Ora ‘Safe Water’

The Roxburgh Pool was originally opened in 1932. The 90 year old pool situated at the rear of the high school, has served the community well, but has reached the end of
its life. Roxburgh Pool Punawai Ora ‘Safe Water’ Incorporated chair, Sally Feinerman says, “The pipework and plumbing is beyond repair, the boiler doesn’t work, the solar panels are unusable, and it leaks like a sieve.”

Roxburgh desperately needs a modern, safe swimming complex where kids can have fun and learn to swim, to be safe in the water or participate in aquatic exercise. For 16 years a core volunteer committee have worked tirelessly to fundraise for the replacement of the pool. It has been a long time in the making.

In March 2021 CLT granted $920,766

towards bringing the new Roxburgh Pool to fruition. The concept pictured will have new changing rooms, office space, a plant room, a dedicated learners' and toddlers’ pool with beach access, plus a 25m - four lane main pool.

The circa $3 million dollar new pool project will be a significant asset for the 1,500 strong Teviot Valley population.

The site is already cleared and the new pool is expected to be completed and ready for use by February 2023.

Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust

Lake Dunstan Trail - the jewel in the crown of the cycle trail network in Central Otago

The culmination of the Trust’s year was in the opening of the Lake Dunstan Cycle and Walking Trail. An official opening function was held on 7 May 2021 at which the late Sir Eion Edgar and Honourable Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash opened the trail.

The following day a ribbon cutting was held in Clyde with first riders cycling the trail to Cromwell’s Heritage Precinct for a grand opening celebration. To date 25,000 have utilised the trail.

The Lake Dunstan Trail project has been driven by the Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust (COQTNT) and is the first of five projects COQTNT is focused on.

COQTNT was successful in securing funding from central government, with then Prime Minister John Key announcing a contribution of $13.15 million at a function at Carrick Winery in May 2016. It signalled central government’s tripartite funding agreement with Central Lakes Trust and the Otago Community Trust, matching the government’s support with $11.15 million from Central Lakes Trust and $2 million from Otago Community Trust.

Feasibility studies for the Lake Dunstan Trail date back to 2014.

Construction commenced on the first part of the trail on 31 May 2019, with the portion along Lake Dunstan beyond Pisa Moorings opening for the summer of 2019.

Linking trails from Clyde to Cromwell, the 59 kilometre trail passes New Zealand’s third largest hydroelectric dam - the Clyde Dam - then travels along the Cromwell Gorge towards picturesque Cornish Point and links in the nearby renowned wine growing area of Bannockburn. It continues along Lake Dunstan, through Cromwell towards an area just north of Pisa Moorings, towards Wanaka.

The Lake Dunstan Trail extends, and complements, the well-established Great Rides of the Otago Central Rail Trail and the newer Roxburgh Gorge Trail, both of which are part of Ngā Haerenga - The New Zealand Cycle Trail.

The grant to link the Great Rides of New Zealand in our region still remains today CLT’s largest grant at $11.15 million, and shows the tremendous foresight of the then trustees, to which we would particularly acknowledge the late Sir Eion Edgar’s invaluable contribution. A legacy asset for the community.

QLDC - SPORT & RECREATION

NZ’s first ‘passive’ community facility

The Luggate Community Hall was decommissioned in 2017 due to seismic concerns, leaving Luggate without any form of community facility.

An extensive process of community consultation was conducted to determine the demand and scope of facilities required for the community’s immediate and future needs and a passive building design was chosen in 2020.

Construction of the new and innovative Memorial Centre for Luggate commenced in July 2021, targeting a completion date of April 2022. The Luggate Mermorial Hall will be Aotearoa New Zealand’s first community facility built to the Passive House standard – a very exciting development!

The old hall has recently been demolished salvaging reusable materials and the site prepared with initial earthworks complete and underground services in.

The new building has been carefully designed to cater for a wide range of community uses and with an eye to the future. The goal is to return a permanent focal point for the Luggate community, a place to bring people together locally but also an attractive venue for events that can be enjoyed by people across the district.

Trust chief executive, Susan Finlay says, “While it may have been a lengthy process, it’s rewarding to see a well thought out concept. The hall will end up requiring very little energy to operate, reducing running costs, and ultimately offer a healthy and comfortable centre for the Luggate community to once again gather together.”

POOLBURN SCHOOL

Multisport Surface

Last October 2018, we had the privilege of attending the opening of the Poolburn School multisport turf (tiger turf), with Central Otago Mayor, Tim Cadogan.

The new turf replaced a 20 year old cracked and decaying asphalt court. Almost a year on, we visited the students to see how the turf was performing. The turf, still the same bright blue, forms a significant part of the school children’s day, allowing year-round use. Many activities are performed on the turf, from netball to soccer, and tennis in the summer months.

While the turf is used by the school, and extensively by the children throughout their break times, it is also available to the public outside of school hours. A true community project, this turf brought many in the district together, donating time and resource to ensure the success of the project. It’s fantastic to see it getting put to such good use.

UPPER CLUTHA TRACKS TRUST

Hawea River Track

The Hawea River Track forms the cycle link to Hawea Flat, creating a commuter route and recreational network from Hawea to Albert Town and Wanaka. The track complements the Upper Clutha Trails network, traversing some truly stunning landscapes, opening up yet another picturesque area for recreational use by locals and visitors alike.

Central Lakes Trust has made significant contributions to the district’s cycleways assisting in connecting cycle trails through the region to form part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

All these trails create what is becoming a regional asset, linking communities, for us all to benefit from. Eventually 80% of the residents in our region will be within 30 minutes of a trail, making it truly accessible. The success of existing trails demonstrates the opportunities they provide our community, and sees the trust fully committed in this sector

ALEXANDRA BMX CLUB

Track Upgrade

Over 12 years of operation, Alexandra BMX Club had developed a track capable of hosting the South Island BMX event, having previously hosted this event in 2009 and 2015.

The track has served them well but was coming to the end of its life. An upgrade and modification was required to make it compliant, safe and fit for purpose, and to create an easy to maintain facility capable of holding future South Island events. The club also wanted to make the track available for year-round use, and to cater to the needs of most ages and skills.

The club has thirty families whose members actively participate in the sport, this forms a mere 10% of the tracks use, with the majority of use coming from local community accessing the facility.

The club have completed an upgrade and modification which again makes them capable of hosting South Island events, the next to be held in January 2020, bringing an anticipated 300+ riders and supporters to the district.

This coming season the club will also run a schools programme offering sessions at the track with a qualified coach to work on foundation skills with a competition at the end of the programme.

QUEENSTOWN LAkES DISTRICT COUNCIL (QLDC)

Queenstown Gardens Playscape

With the district’s increase in population and housing density, playground spaces become that much more important for the families of our community.

QLDC approached us for funding to assist in upgrading the lakefront playground in the Queenstown Botanic Gardens bringing it up to full compliance and in doing so creating a destination playground for a variety of ages and abilities; encouraging families to get out and about, and enjoy our outdoors.

To see if they achieved their goal, we took along some experts to assess the playscape facilities. Turns out, the sheer number of visitors appreciating and sharing the playscape, was testament to the appeal this playground has.

CODC’s Big fruit playground

“The senior play ground will go between the mini golf course and half basketball court, while the junior play area will go on the opposite side of the half basketball court, says Gordon Bailey, Parks and Recreation Manager (CODC). “We see this as a destination playground with different play items on offer than other spaces around Cromwell,” he says.

wanaka watersports facility

"We are thrilled to have your support and appreciate the guidance given to our project over the last five years. Please pass on our appreciation to your Board and be assured that we will make you proud."

- Michael Sidey, - Chairman, Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust

Clutha Gold Trail

"The Clutha Gold Trail is being greatly appreciated by the influx of users.... Our Trustees appreciate the very positive and supportive attitude of the Central Lakes Trust executive staff to the project, and their desire to be flexible enough to allow for access to the funding to get the project completed. The Clutha Gold Trustees wish to express their gratitude for your pivotal assistance with their visionary project. The Central Otago community is so fortunate to have the Central Lakes Trust."

- Graham Dillon - Treasurer, Clutha Gold Trail Charitable Trust

Arrowtown Bowling Club

The Arrowtown Bowling Club wish to say a big thank you for the support you gave us in the replacement of our new bowling green.

We have had very positive feedback from all bowlers and visitors who have had the pleasure of playing on our new green.

- Heather Stirling, Secretary, Arrowtown Bowling Club

ALEXANDRA MEN'S SHED

Men’s Shed makes massive contribution to community

“The men of Alexandra Men’s Shed collectively provide free or at cost assistance to a wide range of community organisations and individuals, fundraise on behalf of other charities, and coach, mentor or support individuals in a variety of practical subject areas. The vast number of projects that have the Men’s Shed behind them, and the volunteer support they provide within the community is beneficial and well received throughout our region. To ensure the group can adequately accommodate the growing waiting list of members, Alexandra Men’s Shed is building a new and larger premise. This in turn allows the men that join to give back to their community.

The shed will be a community centre, a centre of excellence, and a hub for a network of in-community activities,” says Alexandra Men’s Shed Trustee, Trevor Goudie. At least 20 community groups were supported by the work of the Men’s Shed last year, just a few include; Alexandra Dunstan Lions, Omakau Church, Clyde Playcentre, Alexandra Thyme Festival.