Former Holy Cross College dropped from draft heritage list

The former national diocesan seminary site was one of 17 properties removed from the original list of 146 sites proposed for protection.

At a hearing in May, a representative of the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin said that the best way to protect the former Holy Cross College was by not listing it. The Dunedin City Council had granted a certificate of compliance last year to a lessee allowing the demolition of most of the main building at the former seminary, excluding the central structure, within the next five years.

If the building was listed, the certificate of compliance for demolition would become a “countdown”, the hearing was told.

Hearing Panel Chair and Independent Commissioner Rob van Voorthuysen said that the listing decisions reflect the panel’s consideration of 77 submissions and 22 presentations made to a public hearing in May. 

“As a result of the submissions we received, we’ve removed 17 properties from the original list of 146 properties proposed for protection. We accept that, in some cases, the high cost of maintaining certain buildings, the low public benefit from protecting them and the fact some buildings have existing approvals for demolition outweigh the benefits of heritage protection,” said Mr van Voorthuysen.

“In all other cases, we consider the benefits of protection outweigh the arguments against it, and that the inclusion of these buildings on the . . . heritage schedule is justified.”

Three churches were removed from the list of the buildings proposed for heritage listing – the former Andersons Bay Presbyterian church, the Highgate Presbyterian church and the Kaikorai Presbyterian church.

Mr van Voorthuysen noted that the Dunedin City Council supports building owners financially through the Dunedin Heritage Fund. He encouraged ongoing investment in this fund.

FULL STORY

Dunedin Council announces heritage protection changes (Inside Government)

Heritage protection discouraged (Otago Daily Times)