A long-term strategy for Oamaru's historic precinct is being discussed at a two-day retreat by the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, which maintains and manages most of the buildings in Harbour and Tyne Sts.
Trust chairman Peter Garvan yesterday said the retreat had been planned since the annual meeting on March 26, and was not in response to recent criticism about the direction of the historic precinct and claims it was deviating from the original 1989 concept of a ''Victorian Town at Work''.
Mr Garvan said there were two new trustees on the board, Keith Stevens and Allan Dick, and it was felt it was time to tap into their thoughts, along with the knowledge of the older hands like himself, Graeme Clark, Phil Hope and Bruce Petry.
''When you look back over the progress that's been made since the precinct was `saved' in 1990, we have come a long, long way. Today, we have an exciting and eclectic mix of businesses, including a couple that have survived from those pre-1990 days,'' Mr Garvan said.
The objective of the retreat next weekend was to formulate long-term strategies for the greater precinct.
