Latest news with #FireandEmergencyNewZealand
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Five firefighters to help in Canada
Five Otago firefighters will spend the five weeks battling wildfires in a region of Canada, which has just declared its second state of emergency this year. Glenorchy volunteer firefighters Sonya Porteous and Dale Jefcoate and their Dunstan counterparts Tony Smith (crew leader) and Ewan Richmond, and Wakari rural fire brigade member Chris McLeod, a commercial arborist, are part of a 43-strong Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) taskforce assisting in Manitoba. The taskforce includes an agency representative, two taskforce leaders and eight five-person "arduous firefighting crews", of which Otago's is one. Additionally, Fenz sent a seven-person incident management team to the region last week. Other countries to send firefighters to date include Australia, South Africa and the United States. All crews would be there for about five weeks, working in 16-hour shifts for 14 days, with 10-hour standdowns between shifts, taking a few days off, and then doing it all again. Fenz said as of Friday morning there were 518 wildfires raging across multiple Canadian provinces — 145 of those were considered out of control and of those 105 were in Manitoba. On Saturday morning, New Zealand time, the New York Times reported the wildfires in Manitoba were on pace to scorch the most land there in 31 years — so far this year, over 1 million hectares has burnt, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. "The firefighters are considered arduous firefighters," Fenz said in a statement. "It is tough, physical work. "Previous Canadian deployments have seen arduous firefighters using hand tools to dig out hotspots, cut fallen branches, clear access tracks and escape routes, mop up, and all the other jobs associated with fighting large-scale fires." Fenz Otago group manager Bobby Lamont, of Queenstown, said Otago had sent "the five best out of our region", all of whom were crew leaders in their respective brigades. Mr Lamont expected the terrain to be hilly, swampy and arduous and while they would have some air support, most of the work would be done on the ground. Mr Smith, who had been a firefighter for 27 years, was on his second deployment to Canada and had also been to Australia twice previously, expected much of the work would be focused on controlling the fires. They would push fires "away from builtup areas where there are people — it'll keep burning ... until it snows", Mr Smith said. While there was a level of danger associated with any fire, they would do their best to stay out of harm's way. "We all want to come home in one piece." He also noted the experience equated to about five years' training in New Zealand. Mr Lamont said there were limited opportunities for long-duration incidents, so the experience was "absolutely invaluable — not only for the firefighters, but for our incident management teams". "Getting over there, immersed into 28 days of active firefighting and management, it's the gold standard."
Scoop
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
43-Person Taskforce Set To Bolster Fire And Emergency New Zealand's Canadian Assistance
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is sending a 43-person taskforce to Canada to add to the assistance it is providing the Manitoba province with its wildfire response. A seven-person specialist team arrived in Manitoba during the week. The second deployment leaves on Sunday and features an agency representative, two taskforce leaders and eight five-person arduous firefighting crews. Like the specialist team, they will be deployed for approximately five weeks. Canada is currently experiencing a severe wildfire season and all their national resources are fully deployed. As of 9am today, there are 518 wildfires raging across multiple provinces and over 145 of these are considered out of control. There are 105 fires in Manitoba province. The firefighters are considered 'arduous firefighters'. It is tough, physical work. Previous Canadian deployments have seen arduous firefighters using hand tools to dig out hotspots, cut fallen branches, clear access tracks and escape routes, mop up, and all the other jobs associated with fighting large-scale fires. This contingent is a mix of Fire and Emergency crews alongside Department of Conservation and forestry companies, and a New Plymouth District Council representative. The deployed firefighters are from the following Fire and Emergency Districts: Northland: 5 Waitematā: 3 Counties Manukau: 2 Waikato: 2 Bay of Plenty: 9 Tairāwhiti: 1 Taranaki: 2 Hawke's Bay: 1 Manawatū-Whanganui: 1 Wellington: 4 West Coast: 1 Mid-South Canterbury: 6 Otago: 6
