Under legislation, the council has to review its policy on dangerous, unsanitary and earthquake-prone buildings every five years, and has set that down for this year.
The policy covers requirements for earthquake-prone buildings.
Strategy group manager Richard Mabon emphasised the issue yesterday at the council's community meeting and said there was considerable interest in what might happen with heritage buildings under the policy review - "given our rich heritage of Oamaru stone buildings".
The Christchurch earthquakes demonstrated the vulnerability of similar buildings.
Mr Mabon said the council would work closely with heritage building owners to address public safety and placing costs on owners that made adaptive re-use uneconomic.
The council this year is due to consider, and possibly make substantial changes to, the policy.
However, it had to decide whether to wait for the Royal Comission of Inquiry findings into building failures after the Christchurch earthquakes, and also the Department of Building and Housing technical inquiry findings into the failure of four buildings in particular. Cr Helen Stead promoted the idea of Oamaru organising a seminar, inviting experts to outline the issues with buildings and the options available.
There were also other issues, such as insuring heritage buildings.
She was concerned about the council reviewing its policy this year, before reports from the Christchurch investigations were completed.
Committee chairman Jim Hopkins agreed a seminar could be a good idea, and suggested Cr Stead work with staff on a proposal for the council to consider.
"It is logical the council not create its own set of rules until the reports are out," he said.
An "innovative approach" was needed on how heritage buildings could be strengthened, Cr Hopkins said.
