We grant funds to support projects and organisations that preserve and promote the physical and cultural heritage of our region and that protect and enhance the environment in which we live.
Our Community Stories give an insight into our own grant-making decisions. These stories show the people from our community that benefit from funding.
If you have a great story to tell or want to know more contact our communications coordinator
More stories from our community
WANAKA RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Bullock Creek Boardwalk
Two years of hard work has gone into generating the new Bullock Creek Boardwalk, opened in September 2018, and located on the edge of old Wanaka town, in the Fish & Game Hatchery Springs reserve.
The creek itself starts from a number of springs, fed by the Cardrona aquifer 20km east of the creek’s start, to offer a pristine habitat for species that flourish in the reserve.
The boardwalk provides public access to the Fish and Game Hatchery Springs and the upper reaches of Bullock Creek, preserving the habitat, but allowing access to this resource. The walkway features a boardwalk stretching from Stone St to the Alpha Series subdivision on Otago Fish and Game land, passing through wetlands featuring significant riparian planting and winding beside Bullock Creek, a nursery for brown and rainbow trout.
You can still see parts of the old hatchery, ponds and raceway, before the creek strengthens travelling through the town and feeding into Lake Wanaka.
The boardwalk helps the wider community appreciate the things that we really hold dear, which is fresh, clean water and fully functioning wetland.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II NATIONAL TRUST
Mahu Whenua Signage & Interpretation
In February 2015, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust entered into a partnership with Soho Property to ensure the protection of around 53,000 hectares of iconic New Zealand high country. The resulting open space covenants enable public access to Coronet Peak, Glencoe, Mt Soho and Motatapu Stations, ensuring not only access to these special places on private land for future generations, but encouraging their use. QEII Trust is working with Soho Property and many community organisations towards protecting and creating public opportunities to enjoy the area. Part of this is the installation of signage and way-finding interpretation panels on the properties, supported with funding from the trust.
The interpretation project is well underway – all information panels have been manufactured. The panels for Arrowtown Police Cottage are in place and are available for public viewing, while the three remote kiosks await transportation and installation.
Wheels at Wanaka more than doubles
Wheels at Wanaka is an event held alternate years at Easter with Warbirds over Wanaka. The 2021 event was the second ever held, with visitor numbers more than doubling to 25,000 over three days versus 12,000 over two days at the first event in 2019, with many people keen to experience the region’s rich transport, farming and construction heritage.
This all-vehicle, history-in-motion show is unique in New Zealand and is gaining international interest. Close to 1,800 various wheels and machines were on show, in motion!
It combined individual vehicle shows including a vintage / heritage fair, steam and stationary engines, tractors and farming heritage, plus cars, motorcycles and trucks - vintage, classics and exotics, earthmovers and heavy machinery. The aim is to educate past and future generations about New Zealand’s rich transport, farming and construction heritage.
They have had amazing feedback that grandparents could show their grandkids how things were back
in their day, feel and smell the types of machines that made New Zealand and Central Otago such an amazing place.
WHEELS AT WANAKA
2019 A Wheelie Big Success
An estimated crowd of 12,000 descended on the Three Parks, Wanaka site to attend the inaugural Wheels at Wanaka this past Easter weekend. Transportation, farming and earthmoving vehicles have built our nation, and the show highlighted this with approximately 1,000 wheels on show and generations of Kiwis reminiscing and enjoying the nostalgia that many of the vehicles on display offered.
Vehicle enthusiasts marvelled at the static and moving displays of hundreds of cars, trucks, tractors, earthmovers and motors; big and small, vintage and modern.
The event is to be held on the alternate years to Warbirds over Wanaka and is to promote the preservation, advancement, education and knowledge of New Zealand’s transport, farming, earthmoving machinery and heritage.
MILLERS FLAT BAKEHOUSE TRUST
Restoration of the Old Bakehouse Originally Built in 1908
Lovingly and tastefully restored from almost rubble, this historic timber-clad building now stands proud once again on the main street of Millers Flat, as it did at the turn of the century. The building has been renovated and the brick coal ovens restored. The bakehouse now houses a museum of the district’s artefacts and records, the bakery machinery, along with an information centre for visitors to the area.
This building is one of two examples of an early 20th century building in the Millers Flat township sited in a focal position. A true community project which has been 18 years in the making, and will have its official opening this Labour weekend, 2019.
ARROWTOWN CHARITABLE TRUST
Lighting of Heritage Buildings in Arrowtown
A heritage initiative implemented by the Arrowtown Charitable Trust and QLDC to protect and preserve the historical environment of Arrowtown for the enjoyment of current and future generations. 27 buildings have been lit up, 12 initially completed by council, and the remaining 15 supported by the trust and business owners as well as the Arrowtown promotions group. The buildings look spectacular, tastefully lit up to accent their heritage status, and will be maintained with the support of business owners and QLDC.
ROUTEBURN DART WILDLIFE TRUST
A land of birds - saving some of New Zealand’s national treasures
Birds of ancient origins and unique features flourished in our land without competition or predation, until the first people arrived. Many are now extinct or have been threatened to extinction. The Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust is a self-funding community conservation trust, working in partnership with DOC, to create an inland sanctuary for birds in the Routeburn and Dart Valleys. The braided river systems of this area are an internationally rare geographic feature of our landscape supporting several rare and specialised species. There are currently five native bird species that are under serious threat of extinction.
The installation of 120km predator traplines (including 599 traps over 15 distinct lines, targeting stoats and rats) to protect native bird species and improve nesting success is having promising results, even though it is early days. The long-term aim is to cover an area from Martins Bay on the West Coast to Lake Wakatipu.
Conservation and protection of the unique biodiversity in the Trust’s region is an important part of the Trust’s role.
OTAGO GOLDfIELDS HERITAGE TRuST
Restoration of Stewart Town Cottage & Menzies Dam
The remainder of a short-lived goldmining era, the Bannockburn Sluicing’s are a very popular historic reserve and recreation area. The numerous walking/biking trails through the large scale water blasted landscape, tells a story of humankind’s pursuit of possibility, and encourages us to actively engage in our local history.
Within the reserve, is the Stewart Town Cottage and Menzies Dam, both restored to former glory with only interpretational signage throughout the reserve yet to be installed. The restoration preserves the areas unique history for generations to come. The stone work on the dam has been stabilised and in some areas was completely rebuilt. The entire Stewarts Cottage has been re-pointed with hydraulic lime mortar (mixed with some of the original mortar saved from between the stones) on the outside and true-to-era mud mortar on the inside. A toilet has been installed and a bench seat now overlooks Target Gully. The Roofover (self-supported roof structure to protect the ruin) has been fitted. And the orchard pruned and tidied. The work will be well appreciated by the many locals and tourists (conservatively estimated at 15,000 annually) who frequent the walk/bike trail through the spectacular man-made landscape to learn more about the goldmining pioneers in our district.
alexandra post office garden beautification
“Please pass on our sincere thanks to the Trustees of CLT for supporting this project. It would have been much harder without that.”
- Karin Bowen, Secretary, Rotary Club, Alexandra
Miller's Flat Hall recladding
“The hall is looking amazing – thanks again for CLT’s help with this project.”
- Christina Martin, Property & Facilities Officer, Vincent & Teviot Valley, CODC
Bullock creek hatchery boardwalk
To everyone involved withe the turning of the Bullock Creek Hatchery reserve into a magnificent asset it is today. Your vision, determination, time and money in creating a natural, peaceful place to contemplate and appreciate has enriched the lives of those who live in the Wanaka Retirement Village - Thank you!!!
ARROWTOWN CHARITABLE TRUST STREET LIGHTING
Arrowtown’s heritage building’s will shine brighter with a grant towards Arrowtown Charitable Trust and QLDC’s lighting project. Stage one of the project lighting public amenities pictured above is already complete, while stage two will see a further 15 building’s facades in the CBD to be lit.