Decision reserved on moving historic church

Heritage buildings can be preserved and restored, but to give them a successful new life they must have commercial viability, independent commissioners were told last week.

Arrowtown Trust chairman David Clarke backed the trust's land-use application to move the 139-year-old Millers Flat Church, next to the historic St John's Presbyterian Church, to a site behind Adams Cottage on Buckingham St, in Arrowtown, and use the former church for small-scale commercial activities.

However, opponents of the application, Poplar Lodge owners Aidin May and Jackie Sly, said they were concerned about the negative effect on up to 20 guests at the Merioneth St lodge from increased traffic and noise on Romans Ln.

Mr May said the trust should prepare a conservation, maintenance and heritage assessment report coveringall properties within the Historic Precinct and involve the community before any further resource consents were sought.

The proposed move would mean the loss of historical open space at the back of the cottage, Ms Sly said.

Mr Clarke said the church move was a consent condition for the new $1.4 million church and community hall beside St John's Church.

The Historic Precinct was "certainly preferable" to the old church moving out of Arrowtown.

St John's Church Building Committee chairman Bruce Patton said the Millers Flat Church had outlived its usefulness to the community, but would lend itself to different uses by the trust and complement the Miners' Cottages.

The relocation had been given "a very significant seal of approval" from the Historic Places Trust.

Arrowtown resident Don Spary said the commissioners' approval was critical to two churches.

If Arrow Ln could be satisfactorily used by several commercial businesses, Romans Ln would not be an issue for one small-scale commercial activity.

Commissioners Andrew Henderson and Sally Middleton reserved their decision.