Central Lakes Trust (CLT) grants manager Mat Begg says it's great to see a strong focus from the Upper Clutha on environmental initiatives.

One of Central Lakes Trust’s (CLT) key sectors for funding is projects and organisations that protect and enhance the environment, and in its October funding the CLT has provided grants for multiple projects with this goal, he said.

The trust approved over $77,000 towards the delivery of the 2022 Wao Summit, which will take place later this month. 

“Wao has partnered with a number of other groups to continue the development of the Upper Clutha as a sustainability hub and a leader of the green economy,” Mat said. 

Wao programme director Monique Kelly said the support will go a long way towards helping the organisation deliver its six-day sustainability summit, which features 45 events with the goal of fostering tangible social and environmental change.

“We are very grateful for the support of CLT,” Monique said.

Mat said the trust was also pleased to support Wānaka Wastebuters with a $24,888 grant towards a new community education vehicle.

The vehicle is essential for Wastebusters to run its Enviroschools education programme, which involves more than 4,800 students from schools around the district. 

“In keeping with their philosophy around protection of the environment and reducing carbon emissions, they have chosen an electric vehicle,” Mat said. 

“CLT has granted as per our funding criteria, but also an additional $7,500 to match the government’s clean car rebate. This is a relatively new policy created by the trustees at the start of 2022, designed to promote the uptake and conversion to electric vehicles and further remove barriers for some groups to do so.”

Other local recipients in the latest funding round included the Upper Clutha Historical Records Society, which received $5,000 for an oral history project; Wānaka Preschool Early Childhood Centre, which was granted $5,108 for an outdoor screen and change room alteration; and Wheels at Wānaka, which received $11,705 towards its 2022 event. 

Across the district, there were 15 grants approved by CLT in the October funding round, totalling over $300,000.

The CLT is a philanthropic trust and its purpose is to make a positive lasting contribution to the community by supporting charitable projects throughout Central Lakes.

PHOTO: Supplied