The Snow Farm NZ Ltd has received $225,000 towards the build of stage one of its new base lodge as part of the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) August funding round.

The CLT granted over $1M to support 11 initiatives throughout the Central Lakes region.

at the board’s August meeting.

The Snow Farm’s new lodge needs to be complete by next season, as the skifield’s lease is up with neighbour Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground. 

Snow Farm chair ‘Q’ Samuel Belk says the ski field has outgrown the facility, but because of the speed with which it needs to get into the new build, it will complete the facility in a couple of stages. 

“We are very, very, grateful for the grant, not only because it covers 25 percent of the project, but also because it kickstarts and provides leadership for the project,” he said.

Concept plans for a new base building for the Snow Farm. IMAGE: Supplied

“We could not exist, at least in our current form, without the support of Central Lakes Trust.

“Their support has been critical to two projects so far: replacing our prehistoric barely functioning groomer with a modern one, and the 36-bed Musterers Hut which will allow more schools to experience the Snow Farm.” 

Read more: Snow Farm at a ‘critical point’ says trust chair

Q said the base building will allow the Snow Farm to continue to operate and grow as a community and national asset. 

“The partnership with Central Lakes Trust is a critical part of that future,” he said.

Other Upper Clutha groups also received funding in the CLT’s August funding round: The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust, which runs the Festival of Colour and Aspiring Conversations, received $90,000; Wānaka Primary School received $10,000 for the Garden to Table programme; and the Upper Clutha Sports Community Trust received $4,700 for the Festival of Sport and Recreation.

Tarras School also received $25,000 for the resurfacing upgrade of the local swimming pool.

In total over $1M was approved at the meeting, taking the total grants approved for the financial year to date to $6.82 million, from a grants budget of $12 million.  

The CLT is the largest philanthropic trust per capita in the Southern Hemisphere. It supports charitable projects throughout Central Lakes to enhance the community. Since its inception in 2000 the trust has distributed more than $118m into a wide range of community projects and services throughout the Central Lakes area.