The Otago Museum has slammed a call for newer parts of its building to be heritage listed as "nonsense" that could get in the way of future development.
The comments from Otago Museum came at yesterday’s Second Generation Dunedin city district plan (2GP) hearings on the topic of heritage, where the future of Dunedin’s Dominican priory and the physio pool was also discussed.
Museum commercial director Murray Bayly and planner Don Anderson argued against heritage listing the whole building as recommended by Heritage New Zealand (HNZ).
Mr Anderson queried why the organisation wanted the more modern parts of the museum protected, given they had no heritage value.
"We don’t think it’s got anything to do with HNZ.‘‘We think it’s nonsense and we don’t want them involved," Mr Anderson said.
Mr Bayly said there were plans to add to the museum because of a lack of storage and having the whole building heritage protected could get in the way.
"We just need some flexibility in place, where possible, to allow for future developments."
Council planner Emma Christmas said the whole building was protected in the proposed 2GP on the understanding there was agreement between HNZ and the museum.
"It’s good to clarify that has happened. We will have to re-look at that," Ms Christmas said.
Mr Bayly said the museum did meet HNZ but no agreement was reached in "any way, shape or form".
2GP panel chairman David Collins said recommendations on 2GP were often based on an understanding of what parties had agreed to.
"If there is a misunderstanding about that, it may well be that the recommendation might change to not support HNZ’s submission."
The Property Council also spoke to its submission calling for more relaxed rules on heritage.
Member Stephen Cairns stressed its desire for "flexibility".
"Not all properties are able, necessarily, to be saved, because of underlying economic functional obsolescence," Mr Cairns said.
The 2GP also heard fresh details about the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin’s plans for redeveloping the historic Dominican priory.
The organisation’s counsel, Shelley Chadwick, said it had agreed to a heritage covenant with HNZ that involved protecting the facades facing Rattray, Smith and Tennyson Sts.
This would allow it to alter the western side of the building facing Kavanagh College, providing the opportunity to modernise the building by installing a large area of windows as part of a development, Ms Chadwick said.
The diocese disagreed with a recommendation that resource consent be required for restoration work on protected parts of buildings, which would create additional costs and delays.
It was hoped that extensive roof repairs would be carried out this summer.
"Once the building is watertight, ideas for development and new uses which can support the costs of redevelopment can start to take shape."
The Southern District Health Board called for the physio pool to not be protected in the 2GP’s heritage schedule, saying the site might be used in the redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital and it might not be feasible to save it.
Opus International principal planner Julie McMinn said it was likely the heritage value of the building would be considered as part of a resource consent for a hospital redevelopment, in any case.
Mr Collins said he was reassured the DHB would consider the heritage and therapeutic value of the pool when planning for the redevelopment of the hospital.
