A shake-up of heritage protection rules may be music to the ears of developers, but could spell trouble for Dunedin’s heritage standing, an advocate says.
Southern Heritage Trust spokeswoman Jo Galer said that, at a glance, government changes to heritage protections would produce a standardised approach across the country, likely to Dunedin’s detriment.
Sweeping changes to planning rules were announced yesterday, as legislation intended to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) was revealed.
Under the changes, councils must provide regulatory relief when planning controls, such as heritage protections, had a significant impact on landowners.
The relief included rates reductions, bonus development rights and cash payments.
“This may be music to the ears of developers, but for a city like Dunedin, which relies on its heritage amenity as a main attraction for a multimillion-dollar tourist economy, there are very real hidden dangers and potential impacts on our unique heritage resource,” Ms Galer said.
The changes might benefit those wanting to build quickly and cheaply, but standardisation could “obliterate the critical mass” of buildings giving Dunedin its heritage city reputation.
“This legislation looks like providing the type of development freedom you might get in a nation that doesn’t care if its heritage or environment lives or dies,” Ms Galer said.
She was concerned relief from cash-strapped councils could curb upkeep of heritage protection rules.
Heritage developer and city councillor Russell Lund said the government had “almost” read his mind on heritage relief.
He supported councils providing incentives equal to some, not all, of opportunity costs but did not back the proposed cash payments. The council already had a contestable heritage fund to support building use and conservation.
“New Zealand is starting to have a more nuanced view of heritage redevelopment in commercial and residential space,” Cr Lund said.
“There is now evidence that heritage redevelopment will create a premium value against new builds, when for many years it was seen as the poor cousin.
“With the current emphasis on waste minimisation and sustainability, there is nothing that compares to a recycled building.”