Heritage status for former Holy Cross College opposed

A certificate of compliance was granted by the Dunedin City Council last year allowing the demolition of most of the main building at the former seminary within the next five years, excluding the central structure, the hearing was told by Conrad Anderson, speaking on behalf of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin.

“The best way to seek to protect this building – and I realise this is quite ironic – is by not listing it,” he said. If the building were listed, the certificate of compliance for demolition would become a “countdown”.

“Anyone who’s looking at using the site may activate [the certificate] before it expires,” he said.

Last year, a person who leased the Holy Cross buildings applied to the Dunedin City Council for a heritage grant to make repairs and also nominated the buildings for heritage protection. But this was done without the diocese’s knowledge. The diocese turned down a plan to transform the buildings into a holistic health and sustainability centre and community hub, and the leaseholder moved out of the buildings.

The Dunedin diocese’s operations manager Paul Olsen said last year that the Church had not nominated the building for protection and was not aware who had nominated it. He said part of the building, known as the Burns Block, was a “recognised historic building worthy of heritage protection”, and there were no plans to demolish that part.

At the May 22 hearing this year, representatives from several other churches argued against heritage status for their buildings.

Among the arguments advanced to commissioners Rob van Voorthuysen (chairman), Cr Sophie Barker and Cr Jim O’Malley were prevention of the future sustainable use of sites, removal of autonomy from owners and the deterioration of buildings meaning they should not qualify for protection.

The hearing was adjourned. Commissioners will make their recommendation to the council once they had considered the council staff right of reply.

FULL STORY

Heritage protection discouraged (By Ruby Shaw/Otago Daily Times)

Heritage protection expected (Otago Daily Times)