Central Lakes Trust approves $1.4 million in grants at first meeting of 2026
- 7 hours ago
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Central Lakes Trust (CLT) approved $1,407,059 in grants at its first meeting held on 9 February 2026. The funding supports a diverse range of community initiatives across the region, including a major new sports facility in Alexandra, expanded vocational training opportunities for secondary students, and an innovative musical playground in Wānaka.
New multi‑sport turf for Alexandra
Molyneux Turf Incorporated (MTI) has received $520,630 towards the development of a multi‑purpose artificial sports surface on the grounds of Dunstan High School. The facility will help address long‑standing gaps in local sports infrastructure, including limited training capacity and insufficient lighting for winter training.
“This facility will make a meaningful difference to our community, says Chris Galbraith, Co-President of MTI. “It will provide a high-quality, all-weather surface that supports year-round training and competition for schools, clubs, and community groups across Central Otago. By increasing access to quality infrastructure, we are creating more opportunities for participation, improving wellbeing, and investing in the future of local sport.”
Strengthening vocational pathways
CLT has awarded $68,445 to Dunstan High School and $61,357 to Wakatipu High School to support the delivery of TradeBase, a hands‑on vocational training programme. The programme, a partnership between the abovementioned two schools, Breen Construction, and the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation, will enable secondary students to undertake their Building, Construction and Allied Trades courses by attending two days a week during the school year.
“What makes TradeBase so valuable is that it puts our students into real construction environments where they’re learning directly from people in the industry,” says Andrew King, Dunstan High School principal. “They’re earning NZQA credits, gaining confidence with practical skills, and seeing clear pathways into apprenticeships and employment. For some students, it opens doors they hadn’t even considered, and at the same time it helps build the skilled workforce our region relies on.”
Musical playground for Wānaka
A $20,000 grant has been approved for Wānaka Musicians Incorporated (WMI), the organisers of Wanaka’s long-running Stars in Your Eyes shows, to support the construction of a new musical playground in the Three Parks development.
“This playground offers so much more than entertainment," says David Baker, WMI Secretary. "It gives the community a fun, inclusive environment to build social and developmental skills through music and invites families to spend meaningful time together."
The musical play ensemble will be located at “coffee corner” at Three Parks, a well-frequented area featuring a coffee caravan, pétanque court, and the Wānaka Recreation Centre. As a key walkway to Te Kura O Take Kārara, it is passed daily by families travelling to and from school and is expected to be used not only by children but also their parents and indeed all members of the community.
