A partly-demolished historic building in Alexandra should be reinstated instead of being completely demolished, the Central Otago Heritage Trust believes.
The trust has made a submission recommending the Central Otago District Council refuse resource consent for the demolition and removal of an old stone stable building in McDonald St.
One section of the building dates back to 1875 and the other was built around 1900.
It was partly demolished last year because of concerns about public safety, council planning manager Louise van der Voort said earlier this month.
The council, in consultation with the building owners and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, had agreed to part of the building being demolished as it was in a dangerous state.
The demolition work was allowed on the understanding a retrospective consent would be applied for, Ms van der Voort said.
Submissions on the consent application close on May 6.
In its submission, the heritage trust said it was unacceptable that demolition work had already been carried out on the building and described it as "vandalism".
"The council should refuse consent for any further demolition and instead require the applicant to restore the building to such degree that it provides a visible record of that portion of Alexandra's history," the trust said.
The original materials which remained there could be used.
The building was on the site of Alexandra's first school and it was also the site of the Criterion Hotel's stables, so was significant given the hotel was the last surviving goldfields hotel in the town, the trust said.
The council was required to protect, preserve and interpret important heritage sites, it said in its submission.
The heritage trust was established 18 months ago and serves as an umbrella group for organisations and individuals with an interest in Central Otago's heritage.
The chairman is Graye Shattky and the group evolved from a heritage working party set up at the invitation of the council.
