Watersports facility gets $400K grant
THE group planning the controversial watersports facility on the Lake Wanaka foreshore has almost all of its ducks in a row and is nearly ready to start building.
The Otago Community Trust yesterday announced a $400,000 grant to the $2 million project.
Trust chairman Ross McRobie said the project ‘‘stood out’’ to trustees as a communitybased, communityled initiative that involved a significant number of volunteers who were keen to see the project come to fruition.
The trust also approved a grant of $120,000 to help with the redevelopment of the Upper Clutha Rugby clubrooms in Wanaka.
Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust chairman Michael Sidey said he was delighted with the grant.
‘‘This funding is a cornerstone contribution to the project and comes after five years of hard effort on our part.’’
Mr Sidey said the facility would provide a lakeshore base for water sports such as rowing, swimming, kayaking and multisports.
He said the watersports trust hoped to hear next week about funding from the Central Lakes Trust, which had previously supported the project.
Grants from two other institutions were also being sought, and Mr Sidey said it was likely building consent would be sought next month.
‘‘All going well, with a fair wind, we’ll be in the building process in September,’’ Mr Sidey said.
‘‘At some point we’ll say ‘Yes, we are ready to go’.’’
The cost of the building was expected to be about $1.65 million.
The resource consent process had cost $370,000.
More than 700 people made submissions opposing the initial application for resource consent for the building.
An appeal against the building was disallowed by the Environment Court last June.