Heritage building workshop planned

Communication between Dunedin building owners and the city council is strengthening, as the council works to help owners find ways to re-use the city's stock of heritage buildings.

The council's second annual one-day workshop for heritage building owners will be held on November 23.

The theme this year is "After Christchurch: What to know about owning an older building", with the free workshop targeting owners of non-residential buildings.

The first workshop, an initiative of the council's heritage buildings economic re-use steering group, attracted more than 80 people last November, with numbers bolstered by concerns following the first major Christchurch earthquake.

Council heritage policy planner Glen Hazelton said strong interest was expected again.

This year's speakers include Jason Ingham, from the University of Auckland and co-author of a report for the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission, Alan Race of Crombie Lockwood on insurance, and Lou Robinson of Hadley Robinson on earthquake strengthening.

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the council would be present at the workshop, with the council outlining its new earthquake-prone buildings policy and the range of incentives available for earthquake strengthening.

Steve Macknight of Steve Macknight Strengthening and Design and Lawrie Forbes of Zeal Steel would conduct site visits to earthquake strengthening projects.

Mr Hazelton said he was gratified people who attended last year had kept in touch with the council, either for heritage advice, to get funding, or if they were not ready to go ahead with work, keeping communication open anyway.

"I've been pretty surprised about that positive outcome," Mr Hazelton said.

Steering group chairman Cr Lee Vandervis said the workshop would offer invaluable advice for heritage building owners.

Places were limited and registration was necessary.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz

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