Plan Change 33

Devonport Heritage have made a comprensive submission on Auckland Council's proposal to create a new heritage zone overlay ( Plan Change 33), that will address concerns over how business zoned sites that occur in the residential heritage areas of Devonport can be developed or changed in future. The plan change covers many areas- Demolition and Removal; Scale and Bulk - this is where height is considered; using business zones for residential uses such as apartments. This change will effectively mean that commercial buildings and sites will have to be considered in the context of their neighbourhood, much the same as has already been happening in the residential heritage zone since 1993.



Submissions were to have closed on 13 September , but have now been extended to October 4, so download a submission form today and send one in to Council.


http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/YourCouncil/PublicDocuments/DistrictPlan/Pages/01DistrictPlanNewAndImportantToNote.aspx




The full text of Devonport Heritage's submission can be seen at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oIXMK0TDXldgzKiEzHlf0ysyvseZxeVM8hEVg-wMdlg/edit##

Celebrate Our Heritage

DEVONPORT HERITAGE NIGHT
For Home Renovators and Heritage Enthusiasts
Featuring three successful renovations

McHugh's at Cheltenham
Monday 3 November, 7.30 pm

Entry $5.00

Overwhelming Support at Rally

Devonport Heritage was overwhelmed by the levels of support and interest at the protest held on 18 October at the Vauxhall Shops to protest the proposed demolition of the the buildings at 89 Vauxhall Road. See these pictures for a sample of the day.
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PROTEST RALLY

Come and Protest

Join Devonport Heritage in protesting the proposed demolition of the buildings at 89 Vauxhall Rd

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER, 10.30 AM

All welcome

89 Vauxhall Rd

A Devonport Heritage member says it wasn't her, but ....

This protest grafitti is a sign of feelings about the soon to be demolished (to make way for appartments), buildings at 89 Vauxhall Rd [click photo to enlarge]

What do you think - vote here, leave a comment, email us and tell us what you think!

Rangitoto bach wins UNESCO award

Susan Yoffe, of Devonport Heritage 'delighted' with the award.

A labour of love, by Sue Yoffe and others, has been rewarded with the restoration of the historic caretaker’s bach on Auckland’s Rangitoto Island receiving high praise in the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards 2008.
Bach 38, an 80-year-old heritage cottage that was in serious need of repair, won an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO awards. It is understood to be the first New Zealand submission to have been recognised by the awards panel.
Susan Yoffe, who recently retired after 12 years service on the Auckland branch committee of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, submitted the Bach 38 entry in March on behalf of the Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust (RIHCT).
Susan, who described the submission as “like writing a mini-thesis” clearly put her considerable skills as a contractual researcher for NZHPT to good effect. She said the award put the unassuming Kiwi bach on the world stage and recognised the importance of bach settlements in New Zealand’s architectural and social history.
The RIHCT relied on volunteers, over a three-year period, to complete the restoration in 2005. It is now used as headquarters for the RIHCT as well as an information centre.
Notification of the honour – which was given to only 17 of 45 projects, from 13 countries - came on 8 September.
Bach 38 was in illustrious company, achieving recognition alongside Herat Old City (Afghanistan) and Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) who received Awards of Excellence.

Historic St Mary's Presbytery, Wanganui, demolished

Despite the best efforts of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT), work began in mid-September to demolish St Mary’s Presbytery in Wanganui.

The Presbytery, built in 1913, was this year listed as a Category I historic place, NZHPT believing the building had ‘special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value’.

Unfortunately, after negotiations that started in 2004 with St Mary’s Church officials – and discussions with the Wanganui District Council – this outstanding landmark could not be saved.

The Presbytery’s demolition is a reminder that while NZHPT’s role is to identify and protect heritage, protection for historic places comes from councils listing properties on District Plans.

The Presbytery had great potential for adaptive re-use, with a local business trying, unsuccessfully, to negotiate a lease with the Church.

Designed by noted New Zealand architect John Sidney Swan, the Presbytery was a distinctive Wanganui landmark. It featured considerable architectural qualities that complemented the historical associations with the area.

NZHPT completed extensive research in the registration process to confirm Category I status.

With assistance from the Wanganui District Council, a seismic strengthening report was commissioned. The report found the costs of repair to be considerably less than church estimates.

Ultimately the council opted against issuing a heritage order, paving the way for the Presbytery’s demise.

However, another landmark’s loss was averted when the Wanganui District Council refused a resource consent application to have the Native Land Court Building demolished. The building was last week confirmed as a Category I historic place.