After volunteers battled for many years to safeguard buildings at the Dunedin Gasworks Museum, a tender has been let to protect and restore the endangered fitting shop.
An engineering report had warned that the heritage-listed fitting shop building, sited near the museum entrance, was "likely to collapse" unless immediate action was taken.
Gasworks museum trust board chairman Barry Clarke was "very pleased" moves were being taken to safeguard the brick building, and that closer links were being developed with the Otago Settlers Museum.
The Dunedin City Council, which owns the gasworks buildings, has earmarked more than $400,000 for the fitting shop project.
Gasworks organisers have undertaken to raise $140,000 towards the overall restoration cost.
Dunedin builders Stevenson and Williams Ltd has been awarded the fitting shop tender, and the job is expected to last about six months.
Architectural planning for the restoration and redevelopment project is being undertaken by Ian Butcher Architecture Ltd, a Dunedin firm which undertakes environmentally-sustainable architecture.
Mr Butcher said it was hoped that a building consent for the project would be obtained in about 10 days, and that physical work could also begin in September.
The roof will be jacked up, which will allow the building's two long brick walls, which have tilted out of alignment, to be moved back into the correct position.
The foundations are to be bolstered, and the building will be internally strengthened to provide better protection against earthquakes.
Plans are also afoot to later create a new Centre for Energy Sustainability building, costing more than $1 million, at the museum site, to act as a reception and education area.
Mr Clarke, who is a former chairman of the settlers museum board, advocates stronger governance links between the two museums, which he says would enable the gasworks to benefit from more of the settlers museum's professional expertise.
