‘Thanks for your support’: Whakatipu Rowing Club patron Jim Boult, left, with Maryanne Green and Mark Owens, of Hugo Charitable Trust, which is donating $100,000 towards redeveloping the club’s Lake Hayes HQ. Behind them are two new boatsheds

Thanks to generous business support, Whakatipu Rowing Club has four new boatsheds by its Lake Hayes club building.

The sheds were officially opened by long-time club patron Jim Boult at the club’s open day last Sunday.

He thanked Hamish Noton, of Form Construction, Paul and Peter Rogers, of RBJ, and architect Emma Schmitz for being ‘‘the drivers’’ of the project, along with suppliers including ITM Southern Lakes.

Club president Amy Wilson-White says all the labour and about 90% of the materials were donated for the $300,000-plus project.

‘‘It frees up space for some of our boats and it will also increase the longevity of our coach boats ’cos at the moment they’re sitting in water all winter.’’

Meanwhile, Hugo Charitable Trust — whose founding couple Maryanne Green and Mark Owens live locally — advised last Friday they’re making the first major donation, of $100,000, towards the club building redevelopment project which will cost about $1 million.

Subject to funding, and building consent, the project — extending the ground floor and adding a first floor with a main clubroom area — will start April 1 next year, after the rowing season’s finished.

[email protected]

- Advertisement -