Tekapo Genesis grants given
Grants worth $33,073.69 have been approved for projects that will benefit the Lake Tekapo community.
The Tekapo Community Board received seven applications for grants, totalling $79,888.70, from the Genesis Energy Promotion of Tekapo Township fund but only $33,073.69 was available.
The board made its recommendations to the Mackenzie District Council after its meeting on February 12, and the council endorsed the decisions at a publicly excluded meeting last Tuesday.
Snowgrass Solutions was awarded the full amount of $3300 for a replacement FM transmitter in Tekapo for RNZ and the Tekapo Lions were given the full amount of $7000 towards a bus shelter for schoolchildren, although its request for $5000 towards the relocation of its wishing well was rejected.
Tekapo Promotions and Business Association received $4200 out of a total $17,921 requested for 2020 promotions projects; Lake Tekapo School was granted $14,273.69 out of a total $25,000 requested towards completing work on its swimming pool; and the Tekapo Trails Society was awarded $4300 requested for
Sawdon Trail.
The Lake Tekapo Power Boat and Waterski Club, which requested $15,000 for the extension of the boat ramp on Lakeside Dr, was the only applicant not to receive any money.
Councillor Matt Murphy, who out of work $6667.70 on the is the council representative on the Tekapo Community Board, said there was robust discussion around the applications and ‘‘every application was considered with due diligence and agreement was reached by all on the outcome’’.
It is the first time the grant has been made available to multiple applicants. Tekapo Community Board chair Steve Howes said each application was carefully considered based on the detail provided and the feasibility of the project being completed by the December 31, 2020 deadline.
‘‘The community board thanks all applicants for their work and commitment to the committees, clubs and organisations that they serve, and for their time in preparing the grant applications,’’ he said.
‘‘Ultimately funds have been directed to areas where we believe the wider community will benefit,’’ Howes said.
The next Genesis Energy fund is open for applications until 5pm on March 13.
For more information, terms and conditions, or to receive an application form, contact Anna Jessup on anna. jessup@genesisenergy.co.nz.