Snow Farm is one step closer to funding its new base lodge after receiving a substantial grant from the Otago Community Trust (OCT).

It is one of six local charities and organisations in the Upper Clutha to receive support for a range of events and programmes in the latest funding round. 

The $180,000 grant will assist with the cost of building the lodge, which will serve all users, summer and winter, for both recreational and school activities.

The ski field’s new lodge needs to be completed by next season, as the ski field’s lease with its neighbour, the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground, is up, Snow Farm chair ‘Q’ Samuel Belk said.

“Due to the speed with which we need to get into the new build, we will complete the facility in a couple of stages,” he said, “stage one costing an estimated $900,000 and stage two costing $800,000.”

“Thanks to the $180,000 grant from Otago Community Trust, and an earlier $225,000 grant from Central Lakes Trust, we now have strong momentum to reach our funding target for stage one and ensure that the Snow Farm continues to operate and grow as a community and national asset.”

The new base lodge build follows the completion of Musterer’s Hut at Snow Farm, a new 36-bed backcountry hut designed for use by schools and community groups.

See also: ‘Former PM to mark Snow Farm milestone’

OCT chief executive Barbara Bridger said the trust is pleased to be supporting the project. 

“The Snow Farm is a unique facility and having a base building is fundamental to their operations and the experience of the various users including school groups and cross-country skiers,” she said.

The OCT also supported local events this month: it awarded a $85,000 grant to Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust to assist with the cost of delivering the 2023 Festival of Colour and the 2024 Aspiring Conversations events; and One New Zealand received a $10,000 grant to assist with the cost of holding the Wao Summit.

Other local grant recipients in the September funding round include the Wānaka Arts Society, which received $3,500 for its Labour Weekend exhibition; Snow Sports NZ, which received $10,780 grant to assist with the cost of holding the SSNZ Junior Freestyle Nationals event; Bike Wānaka, which received a $20,000 grant to assist with the cost of updating the Lismore Bike Park; and Wānaka Primary School, which received $10,000 to go towards extending its garden programme.

The OCT is a philanthropic organisation which applies its trust funds for charitable and other purposes which are of benefit to the community.