Oamaru's historic area could get greater protection, with a proposal to list it in the Waitaki district plan.
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has had the Harbour-Tyne-Itchen Sts and part of Tees St area, which features a collection of outstanding 19th-century buildings, listed as a historic area since 1994, and now the Waitaki District Council's committee of the whole has recommended the historic area also be added to the Waitaki district plan.
The council is at present making a number of minor changes to its Waitaki plan, including one that covers heritage and an appendix which lists items of heritage value. The change would correct some of the details with the listed items and add a small number of new ones where owners had given approval.
But Cr Peter Garvan wanted that plan change to be extended to include adding the historic area, as recorded by the Historic Places Trust, after analysis under the Resource Management Act and consultation with affected stakeholders, including property owners.
He told the committee's meeting this week the historic area had been listed by the trust since 1994, and it was time it was included in the Waitaki plan.
Within the area, 22 buildings had been listed in the Waitaki plan, but this only protected the structures, not what went on around them.
"It's important it [the area] is recognised in our district plan so we can go out for regional and national funding," he said.
Planning manager David Campbell said there were five historic areas within the Waitaki district, and he asked whether all should be looked at for inclusion.
It was not just a matter of listing the areas, but also drawing up rules for protection.
Cr Jim Hopkins expressed some concern about listing the areas and the restraints that may impose, but the committee recommended the council investigate going ahead.
