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Octopi, crabs and maybe even some fish could be driving around town very soon, after the University of Otago’s Marine Studies Centre recently received a major grant.
As part of last month’s funding round, the Otago Community Trust gave the centre $20,000 to assist with the cost of delivering its Aquavan outreach programme.
The Aquavan brings live marine critters and touch pools to schools and communities, to create awareness and understanding of the connectivity between river health and the coastal environment.
Specially designed to transport marine species, the van is equipped with chilled re-circulating seawater tanks and a mobile touch tank to support hands-on learning.
Centre director Sally Carson was "thrilled" with the financial support.
"This generous grant ensures we can deliver our unique mobile marine education programme to Otago communities and schools, improving understanding of connections between inland environments and marine ecosystems, and developing future generations’ skills for environmental action."
The grant was one of 36, totalling $278,888, given by the trust to support a wide range of community projects.
Several Otago events also received major funding boosts, including a $15,000 grant to Caversham Harrier and Athletic Club Inc to support this year’s Dunedin Marathon; a $20,000 grant to assist the Winter Games New Zealand Charitable Trust to run the 2023 Winter Games; and $15,000 for the Port Chalmers Seafood Festival.
Otago Community Trust Community Grants, July 2023
Alexandra: Flames Ice Hockey Club ($2000); Alexandra Musical Society ($8000); Clyde Primary School ($10,000). Balclutha: Balclutha Gymnastics Club ($2000); Clutha District Council Owaka Community Centre ($6390). Dunedin: OurSight ($1000); Otago Fish & Game Council ($1879); Dunedin Community Mediation Association ($2160); Dunedin Philippine Club Inc ($2245); West Harbour Arts Charitable Trust ($2500); Port Chalmers Foundry Society ($3000); Village Agrarians Charitable Trust ($3726); Dunedin Tracks Network Trust ($4000); Otago Hockey Association ($5000); Parafed Otago ($5000); Otago Touch Association ($5000); Citizens Advice Bureau Dunedin ($12,000); Port Chalmers Seafood Festival ($15,000); Caversham Harrier and Athletic Club ($15,000); Straight Up Trust ($40,000); Mosgiel Piping and Dancing Society ($1308). Oamaru: Lower Waitaki Golf Club ($3500); Janet Frame Eden Street Trust ($3500); North Otago Art Society ($5000); Otago: Netball South Zone ($2000); CanInspire Charitable Trust ($2500); Show Me Shorts Film Festival Trust ($3000); Volunteer South/Kaituao o te Taitonga ($4080); Volunteer South/Kaituao o te Taitonga ($7500); Eduk8 Otago ($9000); Otago University Marine Studies Centre ($20,000). Waikouaiti Palmerston: Waikouaiti Golf Club ($6600). Wanaka: Wanaka Musicians ($5000); Te Kura O Take Kārara ($15,000); Winter Games NZ Charitable Trust ($20,000); One New Zealand Wao Aotearoa ($25,000).
— Staff reporter