Media Release for immediate use 18 September 2009

Boating Club Buoyed By Support Of Meridian Community Fund

Seven community groups benefited to the tune of more than $73,000 in the latest round of funding from the Meridian Manapouri Te Anau Community Fund.
The Te Anau Boating Club received $20,000, one of the largest contributions, to assist with its project to deepen the harbour at Bluegum Point.

Club secretary Chris Shaw says the support from the Community Fund will be invaluable in getting the project afloat.

“Over the years many people have contributed to developing the club into a first-class facility for boating enthusiasts,” he says. “From time to time we have undertaken dredging to remove the build up of sediment in the harbour but we feel it is time to deepen the harbour to make it more user friendly for generations to come.

“The deepening project will significantly improve access within the inner harbour, especially when the lake level is low. It will also improve our ability to moor more boats, particularly the larger ones that are becoming more common.

“Water activities are important to our community and we are keen to encourage even more locals and visitors to take up an interest in boating so it is important that we do everything we can to ensure we have a top-rate facility,” says Chris Shaw.

The project will excavate to around 2 metres deep. Work is expected to begin in the winter of 2010 once lake levels are lower. The club will be working on consents and sourcing additional funding in the coming months.

The Te Anau Boating Club was established in the 1940s and has around 620 members.
In 2008 the Club undertook a significant sheet-piling project of some of the harbour walls. The Club is also in the process of installing two new jetties in the inner harbour.

Alan Seay, chair of the Meridian Manapouri Te Anau Community Fund, says the Te Anau Boating Club project is a valuable initiative for the community.
“The project to deepen the harbour at Bluegum Point is exactly the kind of initiative the Fund was set up to support,” he says. “The harbour is a significant focal point for the local community and the water activities it offers attract visitors from far and wide who come to make the most of the region’s amazing lakes and harbours.

“It is great to see so many hard working volunteers working together to make a real difference in the community,” says Alan Seay.

The Meridian Manapouri Community Fund is to the value of $500, 000 over three years. A panel of community members and Meridian staff work together to help decide which local initiatives are supported.
Applications for consideration in the next round of funding must be submitted by 4 November, 2009.

To find out more about the Meridian Community Funds visit http://www.meridian.co.nz

Latest Meridian Manapouri Te Anau Community Fund recipients
Te Anau Toy Library

Granted $3900 to enable the extension of the Te Anau Toy Library’s storage room
Te Anau School

Granted $20,000 to fund an information communication technology programme at Te Anau School

Schizophrenia Fellowship Southland Branch
Granted $750 to purchase books about mental health for Te Anau Library
Fiordland Kindergarten

Granted $8173.66 to upgrade the playground

Te Anau Boating Club
Granted $20,000 to deepen the inner harbour

Te Anau Pony Club
Granted $10,000 to purchase a trailer and equipment

Fiordland College
Granted $6850 to the Fiordland College Mentoring Project and $3904 to the Performing Arts project.

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