Dunedin Heritage Fund Allocates Almost $110,000

The Dunedin City Council and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) jointly administer the Dunedin Heritage Fund to support the continued use of the city's key heritage places. The primary goal of the Heritage Fund is to protect and conserve Dunedin's built heritage, and encourage the continued use and appreciation of these places by the community.

At recent Dunedin Heritage Fund meetings the Committee voted to assist the following heritage projects:

• Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust of New Zealand - $19,914 toward restoration of Larnach’s Tomb
• Old Seacliff Hospital - $10,000 grant for building restoration
• Globe Theatre - $5,000 grant towards a conservation plan
• Former Outram Town Board Building - $4,200 for relocation of the building to Taieri Historic Park
• Iona Church - $40,000 toward restoration works on the stained glass windows
• National Mortgage Agency Company Building - $20,000 for heritage restoration works
• 268 High Street - $5,000 for repairs and restoration to chimneys
• Canton Building - $5,000 for heritage research

A summary of projects assisted can also be viewed at:
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/dunedin-heritage/heritage-funding

The Dunedin Heritage Fund will meet again in July 2010, before shifting to twice yearly funding rounds.

The Fund has been allocated $40,000 a year by the DCC to distribute in either loans or grants. It provides incentive assistance for a range of works to heritage buildings and structures, including: essential repairs, stabilisation, structural works, restoration, work required to enable re-use of buildings, material replacement to protect historic integrity, and conservation planning.

Priority is given to items listed in the Dunedin District Plan, registered by the NZHPT, or likely to meet the criteria for inclusion on those lists.

The Fund committee is made up of four DCC representatives and three NZHPT members. Current membership is: Crs Michael Guest (chair) and Teresa Stevenson, DCC City Development Manager Anna Johnson, DCC Policy Planner (Heritage) Glen Hazelton, and NZHPT Otago/Southland Area Manager Owen Graham and NZHPT Built Heritage Adviser Jonathan Howard and Otago Branch Committee Chair, Daniel Pollard.

In other funding allocations to heritage buildings, the Dunedin City Council Economic Development Committee approved rates relief totalling $26,799 over the next three years to three heritage restoration/reuse projects.