$95k grant pushes project ‘over line’

The future of the Dominican Priory, one of Dunedin’s most historically important and at-risk buildings, has been secured after a $95,000 grant.

The grant for the Heritage New Zealand category 1  building was the largest of 50 community grants totalling $588,000 awarded by the Otago Community Trust.

Dominican Priory redevelopment co-ordinator Sean Toomey said the grant pushed a roof replacement project "over the line".

Last year,  the Dunedin City Council Heritage Fund committed $100,000 to the project.

The Welsh slate roof of the 140-year-old building,  once the home of Dunedin’s Dominican nuns, had numerous holes which had caused water damage in some of the building’s 70 rooms.

"The interior of the building is largely concrete, so while there is water damage, the engineers have still described the building as remarkably sound."

The priory redevelopment group had budgeted $900,000 for the project, $680,000 of which had been awarded in grants.

Despite needing a further $220,000, work on the project had begun.

"It is under way in terms of the slate has been ordered from Wales."

Thirty thousand slates would arrive by sea in Dunedin in June, Mr Toomey said.

"Initially, we planned to recycle about half the slate because of the cost but this additional grant means we can go for a complete new roof."

He was "excited and relieved" by the funding.

"The funding really is the critical bit that has made it possible."

The roof replacement would also involve replacing rainwater disposal systems.

Local contractors Stewart Construction and Foley Plumbers would carry out the work.

However, the redevelopment team would not seek to redevelop the building’s interior, Mr Toomey said.

"In the past, it [the roof damage] has maybe deterred people from taking it on.

"The limit of this is to make the building weather tight for someone else to take on."

It was hoped the project would take four months, after which time it would be available for development.

"It will be absolutely stunning when it is done, rather than if it is done," Mr Toomey said.

The latest grants are: Dunedin: Grey Power Otago Inc $500, Otago Art Society Inc $1000, Ignite Consultants $2000, Bayfield High School $2330, Dunedin Returned Services Choir $2500, Dunedin Marine Search and Rescue Inc  $3000, Logan Park High School $4000, Disability Information Service $5000, Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community Inc $5000, University of Otago Volunteer Centre $5000, Dunedin Wildlife Trust $6500, Otago University Rowing Club $7000, Dunedin Midwinter Celebrations Trust $8000, Macandrew Bay Scout Group $10,000,  Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival Trust $10,000, Dunedin Citizens Advice Bureau $12,500, Otago Sports Car Club Inc $12,500, Fairfield School $20,000, Otago Youth Wellness Trust $50,000, Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin $95,000.

Milton: Milton and Districts Senior Citizens Club Inc $3500.

Mosgiel: Green Street Early Learning Centre $40,000.

Oamaru: North Otago Toy Library $522, Oamaru Multisport Club $800, 26 Squadron Oamaru-Air Training Corp $1000, Janet Frame Eden Street Trust $2500, North Otago Citizens Advice Bureau $3500, Otematata Residents Association Inc $6000, North Otago Cricket Association $56,000.

Otago: TalkLink Trust $3231, Arts on Tour NZ $5000, Winter Games NZ Trust $80,000.

Ranfurly: Ranfurly Bowling Club Inc $1400, St John’s School $27,000.

Waikouaiti/Palmerston: Hawksbury Lagoon Inc $1400.Other: Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand $500, Wellington Museums Trust $2000, Indian Ink Trust $3500, Cavalcade Host Town Comm Inc $4000, Connected Media Charitable Trust $4000, Taki Rua Productions Society Inc $5200, Halberg Disability Sport Foundation $9930.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz