The Central Lakes Trust yesterday announced a grant of $96,900 for the project, and the Otago Community Trust announced a grant of $90,000.
The grants meant the rink "pretty much" had the green light and would proceed, Ice InLine chairman Murray Miller said.
The World Curling Federation had already agreed to help fund the project through an interest-free loan of $100,000, and a debenture scheme being offered to the curling fraternity and others in Central Otago would hopefully fund the remainder of the cost, Mr Miller said.
The new covered facility would run alongside the north end of the existing rink and incorporate two curling lanes of about 50m in length, and some indoor rooms, Mr Miller said.
The curling rink was stage two of a three-stage project, he said.
The first stage, a new $960,000 plant, was installed almost two years ago and was in its second year of use. The plant incorporates a heat transfer scheme between the rink and the nearby Molyneux Aquatic Centre, whereby heat expelled from the cooling of the existing rink is used to heat the pool.
The third stage of the project would be to put a roof over the existing rink, Mr Miller said.
Ice InLine committee member Hugh McIntyre said the curling rink would be a "real asset" to the Alexandra district and free up ice time at the existing rink for other activities.
The existing rink is shared between skating, ice hockey and curling at present and is open from mid-May to mid-August.
The new curling rink would operate for six months of the year, from March to September, Mr Miller said.
He hoped the final funding for the new rink would be secured by September this year and construction completed by next March.
