Dunedin deputy mayor Sophie Barker called for the plan at a city council meeting yesterday, arguing it was a matter of strategic importance.
Elected members of the Dunedin City Council backed her call and staff will report back on the subject before the council’s 2024-34 long-term plan.
The move to develop an action plan comes amid some concern about nationally influenced housing rules resulting in some character homes getting crowded out by modern units.
Cr Barker said the council was constrained in what it could do, but a holistic approach was warranted for issues that ranged from ensuring a strong pipeline of contracting work to dealing with "demolition by neglect".
"I’d love us to become a centre of excellence for heritage."
Heritage was an "economic powerhouse" for the city, Cr Barker said.
"Over 50% of visitors to Dunedin came because of the heritage," she said.
Cr Barker said the city’s character was vital for tourism.
Cr Lee Vandervis first sought an assurance from council chief executive Sandy Graham the work could be accommodated within the staff’s programme and, after receiving it, he voted for it.
Cr Christine Garey said the city needed to retain specialists who helped to restore heritage buildings.
Cr Kevin Gilbert said he had recently come across people who were surprised how much heritage was on display in Dunedin and he regularly advised people to photograph buildings such as the old Fortune Theatre and the Dunedin Railway Station.
