A new $1.8 million medical centre for Twizel has received a big boost with a $100,000 grant, taking the total raised to more than $1.3 million.
The Twizel-based High Country Medical Trust has operated the present medical centre since April last year, developing plans for a new centre which will have seven consulting rooms, offices and service areas.
The Meridian Waitaki Community Fund this week gave the trust $100,000, which follows a grant of $150,000 from the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury.
The medical centre served the town and surrounding area, including patients from Omarama to Kurow, trust treasurer Joy Paterson said.
''The current medical centre is an old, draughty building with not enough space for all the doctors' and nurses' consulting rooms, she said.
It was also the most isolated medical centre in the country, 180km from a hospital.
''The need for a modern medical centre is paramount. Once completed it will be the first purpose-built community-owned practice in South Canterbury for at least 20 years,'' she said.
In the latest round of grants, the fund provided $35,000 to the Kurow Museum Committee to assist in the refurbishment and renovation of the historic museum shop and surrounding land.
When operational, the museum shop would be home to enterprises selling local produce and would raise awareness of Kurow, the Waitaki Dam and Waitaki Valley, showcasing pioneering farming techniques, committee member John Sturgeon said.
Waitaki Valley School received $25,000 towards two new school minivans allowing pupils to participate in inter-school sports, ski trips and other class trips.
Other grants were:Waitaki Valley Community Society (Kurow playground safety fencing) $14,876.71; Twizel Free Kindergarten Committee (double glazing, roof installation), $8664.07; Twizel Rowing Club (two new single skiffs), $6612.50; Whalan Lodge (repairing floors), $6000; Residents' Association of Omarama (sporting equipment), $6085.96; Tokarahi Golf Club (automatic watering system), $4500; Kurow Rugby Football Club (heat pump and thermal curtains), $4000; Papakaio Cemetery Trust (new mower), $3250.
