Harbourside Historic Area Positive - No Threat to Development
New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information release
12 December 2007
Recognition that the Dunedin Harbourside area is a place
of significant heritage and cultural values is a real positive to plans
for the future of the area, says New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT)
Otago/Southland Area Manager Owen Graham.
The NZHPT recently notified its proposal for registration of part of
the harbour side as an historic area and Mr Graham today confirmed there
has been a steady trickle of enquiry from property owners.
"Most have asked what the registration will mean if they want to
do something to their buildings. My reply is that registration is about
recognising and understanding the significant heritage values of the place.
It does not convey some 'special' protection. That is a real misconception."
Mr Graham said registration was an identification and recognition tool
and did not directly create regulatory consequences or legal obligations
on property owners, or specific rights or control over property. What
it did do was require councils to have regard to the registration when
developing Regional and District Plans, and to notify the NZHPT as an
'affected party' to resource consent applications that may impinge on
registered places.
Mr Graham said recognition of Dunedin Harbourside's significant heritage
and cultural values was essential if the city was to preserve its rich
and diverse history.
"It is widely understood that the Dunedin harbourside area was the
front door to the world for Dunedin in the 1860's after the discovery
of gold in Central Otago. The port was always a working port and there
is evidence in the buildings and the setting of the industrial and social
connections associated with that activity over a long period of time."
"The Dunedin harbourside would have to be one of the last major
city port areas to undergo modern commercial re-development. That development
does not need to be at the expense of the extensive heritage values of
the area. Many of the buildings can be reused in constructive and creative
ways. By making this information public a greater appreciation of what
remains and its significance can result", Mr Graham said.
"Often developers and others overlook the need to be mindful of
the Historic Places Act 1993 when intending developments in historic areas.
Consequently, the NZHPT is consulted as an afterthought and at a stage
when major commitments have been made already. In an historic area, the
best approach for developers would be to engage with NZHPT as early as
possible. I see issues like the harbourside as a chance for the NZHPT
to work with developers and local authorities, giving advice and offering
guidelines. In the long run, such an approach may very well save time
and offer better solutions. Contrary to popular myth the NZHPT is not
'anti-development' at all, we're anti-destruction."
"In more recent times, there has been considerable discussion about
the possible re-development of the harbourside area. Much of this has
centred on the removal or significant alteration of many of the older
buildings within the Area. We need to change that attitude so development
proposals always look at how the heritage infrastructure could be retained
and utilised - how we can find new ways of keeping old buildings alive
- before looking at other options."
"The NZHPT has taken the approach that a better and more detailed
understanding of the heritage importance of this area, and the buildings
and features present within it, was needed for that debate to be well
informed. New Zealand's history is relatively young, so the value we place
on heritage buildings, places and environments is given little prominence.
We tend to be too dismissive, but if we don't do something to preserve
this wonderful heritage now then there'll be nothing left for future generations,"
said Mr Graham.
Should registration proceed, it will need to be approved by the NZHPT
Board. Mr Graham was keen to point out the Board would not make an arbitrary
decision, but rather, would take into account the views of owners, iwi
and other interested parties. He invited the people of Dunedin to "get
involved in the debate" and make submissions on the registration
application.
Mr Graham said the NZHPT would be looking to the Dunedin City Council
to take the lead in implementing measures to afford protection to the
recognised heritage values of the Dunedin Harbourside Historic Area. Local
authorities have a statutory responsibility to recognise and provide for
the protection of historic heritage from inappropriate subdivision, use
and development within the context of sustainable management. The District
Plan is the main tool for identifying and looking after a city's heritage
and contains the heritage list or schedule as well as rules to protect
heritage places.
"That protection may include listing of significant buildings and
features on the District Plan, recognition of the Area as a Heritage Precinct
and offering guidance to developers on re-development options for adaptive
re-use of heritage buildings", said Mr Graham.
Mr Graham said he was disappointed to read the comments of Councillor
Michael Guest in the ODT yesterday (Wednesday, 12 December), who incorrectly
criticised the Trust for what he claimed was an eleventh hour application
on the Harbourside issue.
"This report has been signalled publicly, and specifically with
Dunedin City Council, for more than three years. To say it was not aware
of the proposal many years ago seems 'mischievous'."
The public submission period will close at 4pm on Friday 14 December
2007.
The full report is available on the NZHPT website at http://www.historic.org.nz/Register/Notified_Proposals.html
For more information:
Owen Graham
Area Manager Otago/Southland
Ph: 03 477 9856 or 027 431 6701
Email: ograham@historic.org.nz
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