The Queenstown Memorial Hall upgrade campaign, the Arrowtown Autumn Festival, the Glenorchy Heritage Museum Group and Jigsaw Central Lakes are among 34 community groups to benefit from almost $2.4 million in grants from the Central Lakes Trust.
Coffers for the major hall upgrade project were boosted by $1 million from the trust, only the 12th grant of $1 million or more made in the trust's history.
The hall trust was given approval by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in December to begin the renovation in July. It will involve floor removal, 172 automated retractable tiered seats, a retractable wall enabling the main hall to be divided, dual access from the foyer and matching side stairs on to the stage as well as external upgrades.
The Central Lakes Trust continued its support of the performing arts by giving autumn festival organisers $17,143 towards its annual event, to be held this year from April 20 to 29.
The heritage museum group received $10,632 towards the production of a commemorative DVD about the construction of the Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd, the vital lifeline and scenic drawcard which opened in 1962.
The first screening of the documentary, in which longtime residents and road workers are interviewed, will coincide with Labour Weekend, the 50th anniversary of the road opening.
The funds will go towards the group's efforts to upgrade the library-turned-museum, which was originally the Rees Valley School, established in the 1890s. It was shifted to Glenorchy in the 1950s to be used as a library.
The work will include installing a transparent wall - so visitors can view the book collection from the 1900s but not handle any - and stripping back the outside walls to restore them to the original weatherboard.
Jigsaw Central Lakes offers free services to individuals and families who are affected by family violence. Formerly known as the Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network, Jigsaw Central Lakes secured $71,250 from the trust for operational costs.
