Grant major boost for ambulance services

St John Central Otago territory manager David Baillie at the new Cromwell station last month....
St John Central Otago territory manager David Baillie at the new Cromwell station last month. Ambulance services in Central Otago are set for a funding boost from a grant of more than $200,000 from the Central Lakes Trust. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON
Ambulance services in Central Otago have received a boost thanks to a funding injection from the Central Lakes Trust.

St John has been awarded a grant of $219,379 towards new ambulances in the region.

St John community engagement general manager south Craig Stockdale said the organisation was extremely grateful to the trust for the funding.

‘‘St John Ambulance relies on generous donations and fundraising for new ambulances and lifesaving equipment, and support from organisations such as Central Lakes Trust and donations from the public of New Zealand to help keep ambulances on the road.’’

St John has seven ambulances in Central Otago.

A total of $4.7 million in grants was approved by the trust at its first board meeting of the 2021-22 financial year.

The St John grant is significant, although it pales in comparison with the lion’s share of $1.75million granted to the Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust, the fourth instalment of a five-year grant commitment.

Trail network trust chairman Stephen Jeffery said the completed Lake Dunstan Trail was the first stage of five to establish an additional 170km of trail linking Queenstown and Wanaka to the New Zealand Cycle Trails.

The remaining four stages were being worked on, some being more advanced than others.

The Central Lakes Trust’s overall $11.15million commitment to the cycle trails was its largest grant to date, CLT chief executive Susan Finlay said.

‘‘The amount of people utilising the Lake Dunstan Trail is evidence of what an asset it is for the community, and shows the potential of what the entire network will become,’’ she said.

Various other grants were made, including $200,000 to the Cosy Homes Charitable Trust insulation programme, $186,000 to both Wanaka’s Kahu Youth and the Wakatipu Youth Trust and $141,000 to Sport Otago’s swim safe programme.

shannon.thomson@odt.co.nz


 

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