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The trust behind Queenstown’s $3 million hall upgrade faces a pressure-cooker final month of fundraising.
The Memorial Hall project began in November and the trust needs a further $825,000.
A grant seeking $800,000 is with the Lotteries Commission but won’t be known about until July 2.
Queenstown councillor and Memorial Hall Trust chair Cath Gilmour says they have a strong application but Lotteries has told her there’s not enough money for all projects.
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Funding so far
$1 million (Central Lakes Trust), $400,000 (Community Trust of Southland), $492,000 and $20,000 viability study (Queenstown Lakes District Council)
Sponsor categories
$50,000-plus (Icons of our stage), $20,000-$49,999 (Stellar Performers or Corporate Stars), $10,000-$19,999 (Leading Lights), $500-$999 (Those we couldn’t live without)
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“While we believe we’ll get strong Lotteries support, we’re very unlikely to get the full $800,000,” Gilmour says.
If successful, the trust will only need to raise $25,000 to complete the upgrade which includes increased seating, a lobby extension, an external foyer and strengthening.
“Trustees believe the responsible approach is to up the ante – we’re now aiming for another $225,000 in com-
munity and grant fundraising in the next month.”
The trust has a sponsorship document offering investment levels of $500-plus. Sponsors get their name etched in stainless steel on a feature wall in the hall foyer.
“The project is too important – to us and as an economy – to have come this far and have it not go ahead,” Glimour says.
If the funds are raised, it should start late July.
“My fellow trustees and I believe between razor-sharp pencils on the tenders and continued generous support, we’ll cross the line.”
Gilmour adds some upgrade aspects could be delayed – at a cost – to allow more time.
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