Heritage panel touted as safety valve

Sandra Coney. Photo / Martin Sykes

A panel of independent heritage experts from outside Auckland Council is being suggested as one way to avoid further outcry over bulldozing historic and character buildings.

Councillor Sandra Coney says she is expecting a report on setting up the panel as something the council could do quickly to show its concern is more than words.

"The panel would be available to give the council advice on what action it should take and also provide members to sit on the urban design panel and strengthen heritage representation.

"[It] could provide scrutiny and advice on significant heritage projects which come up through the resource management process."

Ms Coney said the council was preparing an action plan.

"But we cannot do it alone. We have to work with communities so they can protect their local areas, rather than fighting them as we just have."

Yesterday, 100 members of Save Our St Heliers Society met and, according to committee member Grant La Hood, "had a vent of outrage and frustration" over the demolition of six houses in Turua St, including three 70-year-old spanish mission-style cottages.

Protester Lynne Scott said all that was left was an armful of red bricks stamped "Granger B & T Co". The company provided the lining for the 1912 Ferry Building.

Society chairwoman Sally Hughes said it would meet the Orakei Local Board and the council to change planning processes.

"Speakers at the meeting said it was unbelievable that ordinary citizens don't get a say in their built environment while developers seem to get what they want."

She said although Mayor Len Brown was not at the meeting, he sent two officials from the mayoral office.

"We were also pleased when Councillor Cameron Brewer said the council was now on 'orange alert' about heritage."

On Thursday, the council's parks recreation and heritage forum, chaired by Ms Coney, was assured by council managers that "a suite of immediate actions have been identified to improve the existing systems and processes with heritage management".

Officers said the protection of heritage afforded by the District Plans of the seven merged councils was neither comprehensive nor consistent.

Staff working on a heritage plan for inclusion in the Auckland Plan were handicapped by a lack of knowledge.