Thank you very much for your kind donation, Telecom. The
company yesterday announced $250,000 funding for South Island
community projects, after the failures of its XT
network.
• Health boards seek pledge on network
Recipients include a native tree-planting project in Dunedin
and a Clutha District Council-run youth development
programme.
The $250,000 compensation package went to the 12 South Island
districts affected by the XT mobile network outage in late
January.
Telecom Retail chief executive Alan Gourdie said community
leaders, such as mayors, chambers of commerce and rural
representatives, were consulted "as to the projects they feel
will give the greatest benefits to their communities".
"Following feedback from those leaders, we decided to
apportion our donation across each of the 12 affected
districts, taking into account population and also the extent
of the outage in each district."
Dunedin received the largest single donation: $75,000
earmarked for native tree planting at Harbour Cone and in the
wider Dunedin area.
The donation would go towards the Dunedin City Council's
"Let's Grow Native" programme and was welcomed by Mayor Peter
Chin, as consultation about management options for Harbour
Cone was under way.
"Telecom's commitment to supporting planting at the site is
very timely."
Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes welcomed a $5000 donation for a youth
development workshop.
One hundred young people from the district would attend the
workshop as part of the "Get Dotted" programme, which aims to
bring the community together.
"Telecom's gesture will be of great help in getting the
programme well under way in the district."
The donation will be presented by Telecom at the programme
launch in late May.
A further $20,000, yet to be apportioned, will go to projects
in Central Otago, Waitaki, Gore and Ashburton.
• COMPENSATION
> $75,000: Native tree planting, Dunedin.
> $35,000: Queenstown Lakes District Council,
permanent events equipment.
> $5000: Clutha District Council, youth development
workshop.
> $8000: Waimate District, for development of
walking and cycling around Lake Wainono.
> $35,000: Towards extension of city walking and
cycle track in Invercargill.
> $30,000: For Southland's six rural colleges to
buy technology equipment for the classroom.
> $35,000: Timaru's Caroline Bay Aquatic Centre
project.
> $7000: Towards upgrades to Fairlie and Twizel
medical centres, and a bid for Night World Heritage Status
for the sky near Lake Tekapo.
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