Central Lakes Trust

Work is soon to begin on the floor of one of most used community rooms in Queenstown for the first time in its 107-year history.

A pot of gold containing $400,000 has been given to community organisations and schools which have organised events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of gold being discovered in Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes districts next year and in 2013.

Some Wakatipu schools and organisations got an early Christmas present this week, with the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) approving more than $95,000 in grants ahead of the region's sesquicentenary next year.

During the past six months, the Central Lakes Trust has granted nearly $1.9 million to community and charitable projects.

Arts was the biggest winner in the latest round of Central Lakes Trust grants.

Youth trusts were the big winners after the latest round of grants announced this week by the Central Lakes Trust.

A mayoress, a former mayor, a Cromwell businessman and a Cromwell horticulture lecturer are the new faces on the Central Lakes Trust.

Twenty-two people are standing for the Central Lakes Trust, up from eight three years ago.