City walkways and rural cycle ways, native tree planting projects, technology for rural colleges, an aquatic centre project, permanent events equipment, a World Night Heritage bid and a youth development programme are among the beneficiaries of Telecom's $250,000 donation to lower South Island communities most affected by the XT mobile network outage in late January.

Telecom today announced the full set of projects it will be supporting in recognition of the particular impacts the XT outage had on the lower South Island, from Ashburton to Stewart Island.

The announcement follows extensive engagement with community leaders in the 12 districts affected by the outage to identify projects that will provide wide community benefits, as befits the different nature of each community.

"Telecom's role in these local communities is already a significant one, as an employer, investor in telecommunications infrastructure, and as a purchaser of goods and services," said Alan Gourdie, CEO of Telecom Retail.

"In making our decisions about the community donation, Telecom has remained focused on its local commitments. We have been guided and advised by community leaders, including mayors, chambers of commerce and rural representatives, as to the projects they feel will give the greatest benefits to their communities. Following feedback from those leaders, we decided to apportion our donation across each of the 12 affected districts, taking into account population and also the extent of the outage in each district."

"A common theme that emerged from our discussions with community leaders was one of supporting projects that will deliver long term benefits to each community. Leisure focussed infrastructure, and equipment to help sustain vibrant rural communities came through strongly as being major needs for communities in the lower South Island".

The projects that Telecom will support include:

$35,000 to assist the extension of Invercargill's city walking and cycle track, and $8,000 towards the development of a walking and cycling track around Lake Wainono in the Waimate District

$75,000 to fund native tree planting in Dunedin and neighbouring rural communities in conjunction with Dunedin City Council's "Let's Grow Native" campaign

$35,000 towards the Caroline Bay Aquatic Centre project in Timaru

$30,000 to assist the 6 rural colleges in Southland district to purchase technology equipment for their classrooms

$35,000 to assist Queenstown Lakes District Council develop permanent equipment for the many events organised across the district

$5,000 to support Clutha District Council's youth development workshops bringing together 100 young people from across the district

$7,000 to support upgrades to the Fairlie and Twizel Medical Centres, and the bid for Night World Heritage Status for the skies above Mt St John near Lake Tekapo.

Further projects totalling $20,000 are currently being finalised with Gore, Central Otago, Waitaki, and Ashburton district councils.