Latest news with #ArchwayLectureTheatres
Otago Daily Times
17-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Fire station demo not a done deal: Fenz
Leaving Lookout Point's brick fire station off a council list of protected heritage buildings does not mean demolition is imminent, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) says. The Dunedin City Council gave 129 heritage buildings greater protection from demolition or modification without consent under changes to the district plan. A further 17 properties — including the Lookout Point Fire Station — that were initially proposed for protection were removed following a public hearing in May, a decision released yesterday confirmed. Fenz South Island regional property manager Stephen Hill said he was pleased with the decision, which gave the organisation "options" for the site's future. In May, the hearing panel of independent commissioner Rob van Voorthuysen and Crs Sophie Barker and Jim O'Malley were told the building was earthquake-prone and "significantly below" Fenz building standards. Any work to repair it would be considerable and costly. Fenz had detailed plans for a proposed new building to replace the station, but after the decision was released Mr Hill said demolition was not a done deal. "[The decision] doesn't mean that we're going to demolish it, and it doesn't mean we're going to significantly change it," Mr Hill said. "What it does is [it] let's us have the option of doing what we need to do to keep the site operational." The Lookout Point site was in an "optimal location" to best serve Dunedin and outlying areas, he said. The fire station was not the only significant building the decision affected. The University of Otago Archway Lecture Theatres received protection despite opposition from the institution and council planner Peter Rawson. Vice-chancellor Grant Robertson said the university was "very disappointed" by the decision to protect the theatres "particularly given it contradicts the recommendation of the council's own planning expert". "We presented compelling evidence as to why the Archway Lecture Theatres should not be added to the schedule, including the fact the theatres are the poorest quality of the 19-tiered lecture theatres on campus and that there have been plans in place for several years to remove the theatres." The panel was told since 2010 the university had considered demolishing the theatres — possibly replacing them with a formal garden space, which would enhance nearby Gothic buildings. Mr Robertson said opposing the planned protection "did not come lightly", but the university had to ensure its facilities met the evolving needs of students, staff and community. "We will now take time to fully consider the decision and our next steps." University of Auckland architecture Associate Prof Julia Gatley said she commended the council for increasing the number of mid 20th-century modern buildings on its heritage schedule and was "particularly pleased" to see the Archway Lecture Theatres included. In her role as chairwoman of heritage advocacy group Docomomo New Zealand, she made submissions in support of nine properties being added to the plan, including the Archway theatres. "The sculptural form, textured concrete surfaces and super graphics combine to make it such a gem," she said. "I hope [the university] leadership team are willing to rethink their current plans for this one in light of this very appropriate recognition of its heritage value." The New Zealand Defence Force and Kāinga Ora, which both had buildings protected despite their opposition, separately said they planned to review the decision before deciding on next steps. Submitters can appeal to the Environment Court within 30 working days of the decision.
Otago Daily Times
17-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Demolition not a done deal: Fenz
Leaving Lookout Point's brick fire station off a council list of protected heritage buildings does not mean demolition is imminent, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) says. The Dunedin City Council gave 129 heritage buildings greater protection from demolition or modification without consent under changes to the district plan. A further 17 properties — including the Lookout Point Fire Station — that were initially proposed for protection were removed following a public hearing in May, a decision released yesterday confirmed. Fenz South Island regional property manager Stephen Hill said he was pleased with the decision, which gave the organisation "options" for the site's future. In May, the hearing panel of independent commissioner Rob van Voorthuysen and Crs Sophie Barker and Jim O'Malley were told the building was earthquake-prone and "significantly below" Fenz building standards. Any work to repair it would be considerable and costly. Fenz had detailed plans for a proposed new building to replace the station, but after the decision was released Mr Hill said demolition was not a done deal. "[The decision] doesn't mean that we're going to demolish it, and it doesn't mean we're going to significantly change it," Mr Hill said. "What it does is [it] let's us have the option of doing what we need to do to keep the site operational." The Lookout Point site was in an "optimal location" to best serve Dunedin and outlying areas, he said. The fire station was not the only significant building the decision affected. The University of Otago Archway Lecture Theatres received protection despite opposition from the institution and council planner Peter Rawson. Vice-chancellor Grant Robertson said the university was "very disappointed" by the decision to protect the theatres "particularly given it contradicts the recommendation of the council's own planning expert". "We presented compelling evidence as to why the Archway Lecture Theatres should not be added to the schedule, including the fact the theatres are the poorest quality of the 19-tiered lecture theatres on campus and that there have been plans in place for several years to remove the theatres." The panel was told since 2010 the university had considered demolishing the theatres — possibly replacing them with a formal garden space, which would enhance nearby Gothic buildings. Mr Robertson said opposing the planned protection "did not come lightly", but the university had to ensure its facilities met the evolving needs of students, staff and community. "We will now take time to fully consider the decision and our next steps." University of Auckland architecture Associate Prof Julia Gatley said she commended the council for increasing the number of mid 20th-century modern buildings on its heritage schedule and was "particularly pleased" to see the Archway Lecture Theatres included. In her role as chairwoman of heritage advocacy group Docomomo New Zealand, she made submissions in support of nine properties being added to the plan, including the Archway theatres. "The sculptural form, textured concrete surfaces and super graphics combine to make it such a gem," she said. "I hope [the university] leadership team are willing to rethink their current plans for this one in light of this very appropriate recognition of its heritage value." The New Zealand Defence Force and Kāinga Ora, which both had buildings protected despite their opposition, separately said they planned to review the decision before deciding on next steps. Submitters can appeal to the Environment Court within 30 working days of the decision.
Otago Daily Times
16-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Panel gives lecture theatres heritage protection
An unwanted heritage barrier looks set to block the University of Otago's demolition plans for its award-winning brutalist lecture theatres. In a decision released today, the Archway Lecture Theatres and 128 other buildings will be given greater protection from demolition or modification without consent under changes to Dunedin's district plan. At hearings in May, university vice-chancellor Grant Robertson had asked the panel — consisting of commissioners Rob van Voorthuysen (chairman), Cr Sophie Barker and Cr Jim O'Malley — that the theatres not be protected. Mr Robertson said since 2010 the university had considered demolishing the theatres — possibly replacing them with a formal garden space, which would enhance nearby Gothic buildings. The Archway Lecture Theatres represented the "poorest quality" of tiered lecture theatres on campus and were not part of the university's future needs, he said. Mr van Voorthuysen accepted the university's evidence and recommended the building not be protected. However, Crs Barker and O'Malley did not — their majority finding formed the panel's decision. In the decision report, Crs Barker and O'Malley said the building's architectural value was worthy of heritage protection. The Archway Lecture Theatres were built in 1974, designed by notable Dunedin architect Ted McCoy, and won an Enduring Architecture award in 2020. "Its presence is less negative on the Gothic revival heritage value on Union St than its loss would be to the record of late 20th-century teaching architecture," the councillors said. In his dissenting view, Mr van Voorthuysen said not protecting the building would allow the university to operate more efficiently. "Its intended formal garden space proposal will have greater benefits for the city's heritage values than would scheduling the theatres, primarily as that would enhance the aesthetics of the existing scheduled Gothic buildings," he said. A further 17 properties were removed from the proposed schedule, including the Lookout Point Fire Station. Patersons planner Kurt Bowen, working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, told the panel the site needed to be upgraded and a new building was the best option. The panel agreed protecting the existing building based on its design significance would hamper Fenz's operations which had a "high degree" of public benefit. In a statement accompanying today's decision, Mr van Voorthuysen said the panel accepted, in some cases, high maintenance costs, low public benefit from protection and existing demolition approval for certain buildings outweighed the benefits of heritage protection. "In all other cases, we consider the benefits of protection outweigh the arguments against it. "We think we've got the balance right." Submitters can appeal to the Environment Court within 30 working days of today's decision.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
DCC urged to ‘top up' heritage property sales
The Dunedin City Council has been urged to balance personal cost with public benefit as it considers the fate of properties planned for heritage protection. As part of proposed changes to the district plan, the council has identified 146 buildings which may be added to the heritage schedule. At a hearing yesterday, commissioners Rob van Voorthuysen (chairman), Cr Sophie Barker and Cr Jim O'Malley heard 11 submissions on the planned changes. Highgate property owner Stephen Christensen told the panel the resale value of his 1910s house could decrease by about 13% if it was scheduled and the council should agree to "top up'' any future sale in exchange. "If we can be assured that we will not be penalised when we come to sell in the next few years, we would not oppose the listing,'' he said. "After all, council acknowledges that listing provides a public benefit, so why should the cost of that be borne by private ratepayers?' Cargill Castle trustee David Kiddey said while he was supportive of all the proposed buildings being added to the schedule, the council needed to extended some leniency to owners. The proposed listings were "sensible additions'' when viewed from the street "and that's all we need, really. It doesn't matter what goes on behind.'' He suggested owners be allowed to make "reasonable changes'' to their buildings while maintaining an aesthetic street view. "If you're driving down a nice street, that's what you see, and that's what makes it attractive. If you don't know what's behind those facades, it doesn't matter.'' Dunedin landlord Mark Thom opposed his six Central Dunedin properties being listed. He said the council's proposed changes were a "dirty wee trick'' when proposed Resource Management Act reform from the National-led government could change how heritage properties are managed. Mr van Voorthuysen said the council had to operate as the law stood. Five people spoke during the University of Otago submission, opposing heritage protection for the Archway Lecture Theatres. University vice-chancellor Grant Robertson said the theatres were not widely loved on campus and not part of the university's future. During consultation on plan change 1, the council received 132 submission related to heritage — 68 wanted the related submission accepted, 44 for the submission to be rejected, 15 asked for the change to be accepted with amendments and five submitters wanted a change amended if it was not rejected. The hearing continues tomorrow and further changes to the district plan will be considered later in the year.
