CDC grants $52,550 to five projects

Cyclists on the Clutha Gold Trail.
Cyclists on the Clutha Gold Trail.
Proposed Lawrence community wetlands, a Clutha young professionals network and an extension of the Clutha Gold Trail are among the Clutha Development Trust (CDT) projects to receive council funding this financial year.

The Clutha District Council allocated $52,550 to five upcoming projects identified by the trust to help support business development in the district at its meeting recently.

Annual project funding for the trust is provided for within the council's budget.

The funds were allocated to: water quality management ($25,000); a proposed Lawrence wetlands project ($5000); a research project entitled Living and Working in the Clutha District ($10,000); developing a Clutha young professionals network ($5000); and extending the Clutha Gold Trail to Milton ($7550).

Also provided for as part of this year's annual plan was $367,000 for the trust's contracted economic development services to support business and primary production in the district.

In its interim report on future trust activities, the trust said it planned to work with farmer groups in the district to identify economically and environmentally sustainable solutions to improve water quality.

With regards to the proposal to develop a wetlands area on 2.5ha of council-owned land in Lawrence, the trust would help facilitate the project and use the development as a model for wetlands projects in other areas of the district.

The aim of the Living and Working in the Clutha District project was to research and determine factors that would contribute to the long-term sustainability and growth of the district's economy.

The council funding would also help the trust undertake a feasibility study on a possible extension of the Clutha Gold Trail from Lawrence to Milton and explore the development of a Clutha young professionals network that would include people from all industries and occupations.

The trust was established in late 2012, as a merger of three groups dedicated to the Clutha district's development - the Clutha District Development Board, Clutha Agricultural Development Board and Enterprise Clutha.

This is the second round of project funding the trust has received from the council.

In 2013-14, the funding was allocated towards development of a visitor strategy and a primary production contacts database for the district.

- lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz

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