Taieri College was awarded the largest grant, totalling $250,000, to support the replacement of its artificial turf.
Principal David Hunter said the funding had put the school years ahead of where it would have been in terms of fundraising for the replacement turf.
"We were just over the moon to hear the news. Our turf area has deteriorated significantly over the last few years and this grant now means we can press go with the replacement project in 2021.
"It is great news for not only the school, but the wider Taieri community who regularly use this facility."
Tahuna Normal Intermediate School also secured a $142,000 grant to assist with the cost of installing a $744,000 covered multi-sport turf and upgrade the school’s courts.
The covered multi-sport facility is believed to be the first of its kind in Otago and Southland schools.
Principal Tony Hunter was delighted with the funding and hoped construction would begin next year.
Other smaller grants went to Columba College ($31,400) for the development of a multi-purpose turf; St Kevin’s College ($9600) to upgrade the gymnasium surface; Ravensbourne Primary School ($8500) to build a bike and pump track facility; St Brigid’s School ($6000) for a playground refurbishment; and Millers Flat School ($5000) for the resurfacing of its tennis/netball courts.
Otago Community Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger said school capital projects were a driver in several of the applications for funding in December.
In December 2019, the Government announced a School Investment Package designed to provide one-off funding to most state schools to accelerate upgrade work.
"Schools have been directed to focus on projects that can be delivered by December 2021.
"As a consequence of this, our December funding round had a number of applications from schools to support some very significant and large-scale projects to be completed over the next 12 months."
The grants were among 69 made to Otago community organisations, totalling $1,184,747.
Trust chairman Diccon Sim said it was the largest funding round the trust had made for quite some time.
"Our consistent message throughout 2020 has been that the trust has a good level of accumulated-income reserves in place to support Otago.
"As trustees, our responsibility is to wisely manage our investment portfolio, thereby ensuring our general community-based granting can continue to support the needs and aspirations of the region."
He said it was encouraging to see so many community groups regather from the disruption of Covid-19, and begin planning and accessing funding for a variety of projects, programmes, and events in 2021.
Otago Community Trust grants would resume in late February 2021.
Other grant recipients were. — Sticks ’n Stones ($45,000), Alexandra Primary School Charitable Trust ($15,000), Central Otago Ecological Trust ($3000), Dunstan Arm Rowing Club ($6500), Alexandra Petanque Club Inc ($4000), Central Otago Victim Support local group committee ($1500), Kaitangata Primary School ($1490), Blessed Box Charitable Trust ($8000), Our Hut Heritage Hub ($1247), Cromwell Youth Trust($25,000), Dunedin Senior Chinese Association ($2000), Brighton Gala Day ($1000), Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra ($1500), Cancer Society of NZ Otago & Southland ($25,000), Swimming New Zealand ($20,000), Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust ($78,000), Servants Health Centre Trust ($5000), Dunedin Symphony Orchestra ($80,000), Ravensbourne Primary School ($8500), Saddleview Pony Club ($2250), Columba College ($31,400), Dunedin Youth Orchestra ($10,000), International Festival Environment Science Technology Dun NZ ($65,000), St Kilda Brass Band ($3000), Otago Polytechnic English Language Centre ($28,000), The Connections Education and Development Trust ($14,500), Saddle Hill Foundation Trust ($35,000), St Brigid’s School ($6000), Tahuna Normal Intermediate ($142,000), South Dunedin Community Network ($1992), Royal NZ Pipe Band Association Otago Centre ($2000), CCS Disability Action Otago ($15,000), Punga Croquet Club ($700), Toko Golf Club ($5000), Taieri College ($250,000), Middlemarch Swimming Club ($10,000), North Otago Sports Bodies Association ($1500), Janet Frame Eden Street Trust ($3000), CCS Disability Action Waitaki ($7500), Harbour Street Jazz ($7800), St Kevin’s College ($9600), Otematata Residents’ Association ($12,000), Our Hub Oamaru Creative Arts Space ($980), Cycling Waitaki ($1867), Royal New Zealand Ballet ($7000), Blue Light Ventures ($4557), Skeggs Foundation ($16,400), Otago Chamber of Commerce ($45,500), Kiwi Family Trust ($2500), New Edinburgh Folk Club ($6000), Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust ($5000), Perinatal Mental Health New Zealand ($1188), St Bathans Area Community Association ($3000), Millers Flat School ($5000), Bike Wanaka ($10,000), Wanaka Preschool Early Childhood Centre ($3904), Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust ($11,750), Wheels to Dunstan Charitable Trust ($10,000), Wanaka Primary School ($10,000), QLDC New Year’s Eve Celebration ($5000), Able Southern Families Support ($5000), Dunedin Community House Trust ($4892), Otepoti Collective Against Sexual Abuse ($3944), Youthline Otago ($5000), Prisoner Aid and Rehabilitation Society Otago ($5000), The Work Opportunities Trust ($5000), Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust ($5000), Disability Information Service ($4900), Otago Multiple Sclerosis Society ($1386).
