From Emergency Services to School Playgrounds: Otago Community Trust Allocates $1 Million to 30 Regional Projects in March
10 Apr 2025
Otago Community Trust is pleased to announce the distribution of $1,052,261 in funding to 30 community groups across the region in its March grants round.
The Manuherekia Valleys Community Hub received $540,000 toward the development of a modern, multi-purpose venue that will serve communities throughout the Manuherekia and Ida valleys, as well as wider Central Otago. Located on the Omakau Recreation Reserve, this essential facility will fill the critical gap left by the closure of the Omakau Hall and Hotel, providing a centralised space for community, sporting, cultural, and social activities while also serving as an emergency response base when needed.
Designed to accommodate up to 200 people, the Hub will feature a commercial kitchen, function room with bar facilities, meeting space with video conferencing capabilities, changing rooms, a dedicated home for the Omakau Toy Library, a whānau quiet space, and gym facilities.
The Trust has also approved $50,000 toward a new frontline ambulance for Hato Hone St John's Coastal Otago operations. This state-of-the-art VW Crafter emergency ambulance will be fully equipped with advanced medical technology including a Stryker Stair Chair and Suction Unit.
“Hato Hone St John relies on the generosity of donors and funders like OCT to be able to buy new emergency vehicles and this grant will go towards a Coastal Otago-based ambulance that will be well utilised, responding to a variety of incidents right across the district” said Doug Third, Area Operations Manager – Southland and Otago.
“In 2024, our Coastal Otago team responded to more than 15,000 incidents and the funding from OCT will help provide our people with the lifesaving equipment that enables them to continue doing the amazing work they do in the Coastal Otago community, ensuring they are there for people when they are at their most vulnerable.”
While primarily stationed in the Dunedin-Mosgiel area, this ambulance will serve communities throughout Coastal Otago and beyond.
Three local schools will also be upgrading their outdoor facilities. Sara Cohen School will receive $80,428 for a specialised Sensory Playground as part of their new development at the Riselaw Road site in Ōtepoti/Dunedin. This groundbreaking facility - the first of its kind in Dunedin - has been thoughtfully designed to meet the unique sensory and therapeutic needs of young people with intellectual disabilities.
Kakanui School will receive $54,000 and Bayfield High School $83,680 for their respective tennis court upgrades. Both will be transforming aging asphalt surfaces into modern, high quality sporting facilities, benefitting multiple groups within these communities.
Other notable grants include $30,000 to the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust for the Hāwea River Tracks Project, $5,000 to support the Mosgiel Community Food Bank run by the Taieri Christian Care Trust, $12,720 for the construction of a Dog Park in Milton.
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Otago Community Trust Grants, March 2025 |
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Alexandra |
Central Otago District Council |
$540,000.00 |
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Dunstan Equestrian Centre |
$60,000.00 |
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Balclutha |
Balclutha Bowling Club Inc |
$2,334.00 |
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Balclutha Primary School |
$6,000.00 |
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Dunedin |
Dunedin Bird Club Inc |
$580.00 |
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Aphasia New Zealand (AphasiaNZ) Charitable Trust |
$3,500.00 |
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Greater Green Island Community Network Charitable Trust |
$9,500.00 |
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Dunedin Youth Orchestra Inc |
$8,000.00 |
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Northern Association Football Club Inc |
$1,800.00 |
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Andersons Bay School |
$4,000.00 |
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Catholic Social Services |
$3,600.00 |
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Bayfield High School |
$83,680.00 |
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Sara Cohen School |
$80,428.00 |
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YSAR Trust |
$31,000.00 |
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Dunedin North Shed Society Inc. |
$10,000.00 |
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Milton |
Milton Area Promotions Inc |
$12,720.00 |
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Mosgiel |
Taieri Christian Care Trust |
$5,000.00 |
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Ōamaru |
Kakanui School |
$54,000.00 |
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Ōamaru Rowing Club Inc |
$4,000.00 |
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Lower Waitaki Golf Club Inc |
$2,500.00 |
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Otago |
Dunedin Workers Educational Assn Te Wāhi Ākoranga o Ōtepoti Inc |
$6,193.00 |
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Anxiety New Zealand Trust |
$5,000.00 |
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New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups Inc |
$5,000.00 |
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Country Music Dunedin Awards (CMDA) |
$5,000.00 |
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Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network |
$15,000.00 |
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Other |
NZ Paramedic Education & Research Charitable Trust |
$1,475.00 |
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YES Disability Resource Centre Services Trust |
$3,000.00 |
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The Order of St John South Island Region Trust Board |
$50,000.00 |
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Wānaka |
Upper Clutha Tracks Trust |
$30,000.00 |
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Lake Wānaka SouNZ Inc |
$8,951.00 |
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- Pictured at the site of the hub on the Omakau Recreation Reserve: A pretty happy Manuherikia Valleys Charitable Trust committee, from left, treasurer Janette Matheson, deputy vice president Ross Naylor, secretary Maree Leitch, chairman Andrew Paterson and trustee/accounts officer Paul Kahukura.
- Hato Hone St John Waka Manaaki Emergency Ambulance. Volkswagen Crafter. This is a stock image, as the vehicle for which the funding has been received is still in production.
