Media Release from the Wakatipu Community Maritime Preservation Society
23 April 2010

Boatshed Fundraising Steams Ahead

Fundraising for the restoration of the historic Boatshed and Ticket Office at the Frankton Reserve has steamed past the halfway milestone. $536,000 in cash and in kind donations has been raised to date with a remaining $166,000 needed to reach the projected $702,000 total.

The Wakatipu Community Maritime Preservation Society received $98,000 prior to Easter from the Community Trust of Southland which is in addition to the $102,000 the Trust donated two years ago.

Additionally, the Central Lakes Trust has weighed in with $200,000 in their just released major grant funding round. Backing up the cash grants, local businesses have contributed generously with a total of $136,000 in donated time and materials.

Committee Chairman, Tony Butson, is thrilled with the fundraising so far and hopes the final monies can be raised within the year.

“We are very grateful to the Community Trust of Southland and the Central Lakes Trust for providing the bulk of the funding for this project.”

Mr Butson is now hoping to attract interested parties from within the community to get involved in the project. A public meeting is to be held at 5:30pm on April 26 at the Steamer Wharf boardroom in the first floor office suites at Steamer Wharf, Beach Street.

“Anyone interested in joining or supporting is welcome to come along. We are thrilled with the generosity of the local Trusts and the community to date and would like to thank everyone for their continued support. We will also welcome input and help from anyone else who would like to contribute to this project.”

To raise the balance the Committee is investigating local fundraising opportunities and applying to other trusts.

“We are well on our way to achieving what we set out to do,” said Mr Butson.

The $702,000 project will restore the circa 1930s boatshed at Frankton Reserve and create a two-boat slipway which in-turn will become a useful and working community asset. It will also document local maritime history within the old ticket office to ensure this important heritage is not lost.

The Wakatipu Community Maritime Preservation Society wants to preserve these buildings which have been associated with local maritime for more than 80 years.

ENDS

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