More than $1 million is being pumped into Bay of Plenty organisations to boost services and events that will benefit the community.
The New Zealand Communities Trust has this month distributed a total of $1,131,781.11 from Bay of Plenty gaming venues, with the five biggest contributions being made to three councils and two sporting organisations.
The Rotorua District Council received $263,100 for the redevelopment of Te Aka Mauri Play Precinct, Tauranga City Council received $191,681 to be spent on removing the existing athletics track at the Tauranga Domain and King of the Mountain and Woodfest Championships, run by Kawerau District Council, will receive a boost of $69,000.
Sport Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust will use it's funding of $97,617 towards audio-visual services and the salaries of two staff and the Tauranga City Basketball Association received $50,000, which will be used towards the salary of a development officer.
National grants manager Ben Hodges said the trust was "passionate about helping Kiwis, particularly our young people participate in sport", which was why the athletics track at Tauranga Domain would be re-laid.
"We're keen to fund infrastructure projects like this that deliver long-term benefits locally, and through regional and national events that allow large numbers of people to get involved." he said.
The popular Tauranga Domain had the only all-weather athletics track in the Bay of Plenty making it important for the region. However, it had deteriorated greatly since it was laid about 10 years ago.
The existing track at Tauranga Domain no longer properly cushions the joints of runners, therefore the International Association of Athletics Federations' no longer recognises times recorded on the track.
The track is used by about 10,000 unique users every year for inter-club, regional and national events and the upgrade is expected to boost numbers even further.