Church plans new park in South Dunedin

St Patrick's Basilica complex committee chairman Sean Toomey (left) and parish priest Fr Gerard Aynsley look over the concept plans for upgrading the basilica (right rear) and demolishing the priest's quarters (left rear) to create a park. Photo by Jane Dawber.

South Dunedin desperately needed more green space, and the proposal was to demolish the priest's house next to the church in Macandrew Rd and create a park, parish priest Fr Gerard Aynsley said yesterday.

"The idea of creating a space for our parishioners and the community is very appealing ... We envisage it would be somewhere for our congregation to gather, and also a place where a worker from [nearby businesses] could eat their lunch under a tree on a nice day."

Under the redevelopment plans the 117-year-old basilica would be restored and upgraded, a new main entrance and offices created at the rear, the parish hall upgraded to become a multipurpose community centre and offices, a new kitchen installed, an enclosed garden and playground created, and a link formed from the church to the neighbouring Mercy Chapel, owned by the Sisters of Mercy order.

It was hoped Catholic Social Services staff who now worked from leased offices in central Dunedin would move into the complex late next year, Fr Aynsley said.

A redevelopment committee had been refining ideas for the site for several years and it was "very exciting" to see plans being firmed up, he said.

"It is all starting to fall into place."

The proposal already has the approval of the church members in the Dunedin South pastoral area but is contingent on consent from Dunedin Diocese Bishop Colin Campbell and the Dunedin City Council. Approval is also necessary from the Historic Places Trust because of the basilica's age and category 2 listing.

Parts of the presbytery also dated back to the 1890s, but Fr Aynsley said many additions and alterations through the years had "destroyed the [heritage] process". An independent heritage report had been done and it was possible a fragment of the building's facade would be retained as an "artistic ruin" in the park.

A decision on the future of the church had not been made until after an earthquake assessment had been carried out, Fr Aynsley said.

The church was found to be "surprisingly sturdy", although some strengthening would be required to bring it up to "post-Christchurch" building code standards, he said.

Inside the church, the font would be moved but the altar would remain. Seating would be rearranged and reduced to 280 permanent seats, with the capacity to increase that to 400 with temporary seating.

Asked how the project would be funded, Fr Aynsley said the parish had some money saved but fundraising would also be required.

St Patrick's Basilica
• Designed by prominent Dunedin architect Francis Petre.
• Exterior construction of brick.
• Designed for up to 1000 worshippers.
• Exterior begun in 1892, completed 1894.
• Highly decorative interior completed 1898.
• Porch on Macandrew Rd frontage added 1960.
• Given Historic Places Trust category 2 listing 2005.
Source: NZHPT register

- allison.rudd@odt.co.nz