Central Lakes Trust has awarded more than $1M in its latest funding round, including a quarter of a million dollars for a sought-after local preschool.

Wānaka Preschool Early Learning Childhood Centre will use the grant towards a renovation and expansion of its pre-school building, which will allow it to expand its roll.

The preschool currently has 62 children between one and five attending. 

Manager Lo Stevenson said the preschool receives enquiries about spaces on a daily basis.

Other grant recipients in this funding round include the Upper Clutha Presbyterian Church, which was granted $15,000 towards the cost of having two youth workers.

Wānaka Community Patrol - which works closely with police as extra “eyes and ears” to assist them and other agencies to build safer communities - received an operational grant of $2,500.

Plenty of other grant recipients also operate district-wide and benefit Wānaka in some way.

One of them is the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator Programme, which received $220,000 to establish a team to develop momentum and accelerate movement to alternate energy sources.

CLT said while the name of the programme includes Queenstown, resources, educational materials, events, package deals, and capability building will be made available to everyone throughout the region.

“We are thrilled to support this initiative,” CLT chair Linda Robertson said. 

“It’s an exciting step toward a more resilient and low-emissions future that ensures all our communities have access to clean, affordable energy.”

A total of 24 organisations received funding in the funding round.

Central Lakes Trust, a charitable organisation working to support groups in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, distributes grants each month.

PHOTO: Wānaka App