A History of Community Initiatives + Advocacy

2007 invitation to a community planning workshop

Beginnings: 2006-2012

BY COMMUNITY, FOR COMMUNITY

2006 - 80 residents discussed with Council the future they wanted for Cromwell.
2007 - Community planning workshop held at the Cromwell Sports Club
2008 - The first Community Plan was published, and the ‘Cromwell Planning Group’ created.
2010 - The Cromwell & Districts Community Trust was officially formed.

Some of the successful initiatives 2008-2012:

  • New residents’ welcome

  • Lake margin clean-ups initiated, becoming annual community events

  • Lode Lane toilets upgraded

  • Upgrade of the Cromwell Mall

  • Feasibility planning undertaken for a ‘Cromwell Gorge Cycle Trail’

Art created by young people brightening up a dull brick wall

MAKING THINGS HAPPEN: 2012-2021

Community-Led Development

Connect Cromwell was formed to spearhead community-led development projects with the Cromwell community. A close partnership with the Department of Internal Affairs was established to facilitate this.

With Connect Cromwell supporting many amazing projects, the CDCT trustees were able to focus on some of the more complex action items in the Community Plan.

Some of the successful initiatives 2012-2021:

  • Cromwell’s 2nd community plan was researched, compiled and published

  • A heritage strategy for Cromwell was drafted

  • Formation of the Lake Dunstan Aquatic Weed management committee

  • The native landscaping sub-committee was supported to form the Mōkihi Trust

  • Collaboration with local youth to create art installations around Cromwell

  • Seed funds were donated for creation of cycleways

  • Landscaping of Deadman’s Point bridge, to improve the entrance to Cromwell

  • Greenway Wayfinding project completed

  • Cromwell Ambassador programme started

  • Formation of a separate trust to focus on the Lake Dunstan Trail. Then Prime Minister John Key visited and announced funding.

  • The Trustees also communicated Cromwell community wishes and viewpoints to Ministry for the Environment, CODC, Otago Regional Council, Central Otago Economic + Business Development Strategy, Central Otago Arts Strategy and the Towards Better Tourism Outcomes strategy.

The Mōkihi Reforestation Trust:

Established in 2016, the Mōkihi Reforestation Trust began as a CDCT community initiative. Today, it is an independent, volunteer-led organisation, dedicated to restoring and protecting pockets of indigenous biodiversity in the Cromwell district - particularly along Lake Dunstan’s shoreline.

The Mōkihi Trust currently cares for three main restoration sites:
• Stuart Ferry – north side of the Bannockburn Bridge
• Richards Beach
• 45th Parallel

Each site presents its own challenges, but through successive plantings, careful monitoring, and a willingness to learn and adapt, the Mōkihi team has developed approaches that are increasingly successful. Their work has already brought new life, resilience, and habitat back to these important landscapes.

The Mōkihi Trust welcomes community involvement. Volunteers are always needed, and community planting or maintenance days are listed on their website.

You can learn more or get involved here:
Mōkihi website: https://mokihi.co.nz
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MokihiTrust

If you would like to support their work financially, donations can be made at:
Givealittle: https://givealittle.co.nz/org/mokihi-reforestation-trust

Lake Dunstan trail is one of the CDCT's successful projects

Advocate - Act - Collaborate: 2021-Now

Living in one of the fastest growing towns in Aotearoa New Zealand, Tīrau Cromwell residents are invested in moulding its future. Our focus: developing and maintaining a connected and safe community, that respects people and our natural environment, enjoying active lives in a strong, local economy.

The CDCT has a strong history of bringing people together, all working towards achieving the vision our community has for the present and the future of Tīrau Cromwell.

Some of the successful initiatives from 2021 and on-going:

  • Lake Dunstan Trail was officially opened in May 2021, and awarded Great Ride status by May 2022.

  • Cromwell’s 3rd community plan was formed from community feedback and published.

  • The Cromwell Chinese Settlement project was re-started, and today is well underway.

  • Numerous Connect Cromwell projects were supported, including Winning Ideas, Disc Golf, Pavement Art, Repair Cafes, Community picnics with our seasonal workers.

  • The Lighthouse Project: a collaboration forming a korowai organisation to support governance and mentoring for community groups. This grew rapidly and has gone on to become the highly successful ‘Huddl’.

  • Electrify Cromwell! We’re working to increase our community’s resilience and decrease energy costs for our households, by going electric and utilising the sun’s energy to generate solar power.

  • The trustees communicated community wishes and views to the Otago Regional Council Long Term Plan, and to the CODC Long Term Plan, Annual Plan and District Plan.

  • Project Tīrau - can we save Cromwell’s old Polytechnic site, for use by the community? We’ve got a plan and we’re currently searching for partners and supporters to help make it happen.

And that’s not all!

We have a number of Community Plan initiatives in the pipeline, currently being scoped.

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