A feasibility study into boosting Oamaru's Victorian heritage image to get visitors to stay longer in town has been given a grant of $15,000 by the Waitaki District Council from its economic development fund.
But that did not meet approval from one Oamaru ratepayer at a recent council meeting, nor from some councillors.
The Waitaki Development Board had applied to the council for funding for half the cost of the feasibility study into the "Inside Victorian Oamaru" concept proposed by heritage enthusiast Scott Elliffe.
At the public forum before the meeting, Oamaru ratepayer Ray Henderson was "a bit concerned" about the way Oamaru was going, "flip-flopping" between Whitestone Oamaru, the blue penguin tourist centre, and back to heritage.
He said the proposal subject to the study was a "private business", but that was disputed by council chief executive Michael Ross, who said if it was feasible it would be owned by the community for its benefit.
Crs Helen Stead, Rod Bidois and Jim Hopkins also raised concerns.
