It will guide the development of a heritage action plan and will be chaired by city deputy mayor Sophie Barker, who is chairwoman of the Dunedin City Council’s strategy, planning and engagement committee.
The committee yesterday endorsed the formation of the group, which is expected to present a draft plan in January next year.
Development of the plan has been spurred by concern about nationally influenced housing policy, loss of character buildings and "demolition by neglect".
Demolition by neglect is when property owners allow buildings to deteriorate to the point that demolition becomes necessary, or restoration becomes economically unreasonable, the council has said.
A council staff report said the advisory group would consider issues affecting historical buildings across the city and explore initiatives to support use, restoration and adaptive re-use of heritage buildings.
Cr Barker said the aim was to strengthen approaches for enhancing the city’s reputation as New Zealand’s heritage capital by looking after assets beneficial to the community and that attracted visitors.
"Heritage is Dunedin’s superpower and we need to make sure we’re looking after it," she said.
"We have a 2007 heritage strategy and to me it was absolutely imperative that we get moving on this."
A heritage steering group was formed in 2010 to investigate the barriers to, and opportunities for, the re-use of commercial heritage buildings in Dunedin.
Results flowing out of this included revitalisation of the establishment of heritage awards and ongoing support of the Dunedin Heritage Fund.
Ongoing issues included under-used buildings and how building owners might be supported to seismically strengthen their buildings, the council said.
One of four workshops was proposed to be about "encouraging residential uses in inner city heritage buildings while appropriately managing risk of reverse sensitivity (complaints about noise from entertainment and other activities)".
Another would look at strategies for identifying and assessing buildings for future heritage protection.
Cr David Benson-Pope said the council had established credibility in its efforts to preserve heritage.
The expected term of the advisory group was "as required until June 2024" and Cr Benson-Pope said he supported there being a sunset clause, which he expected would assist the group’s focus.
It is expected the group will include developers, contractors, representatives of mana whenua, the Southern Heritage Trust and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
