A proposal for a fund to support Dunedin's industrial heritage was turned down by the Dunedin City Council yesterday, but the planning and environment committee make it clear it was not ignoring heritage groups.
The idea came during annual plan meetings earlier this year from Otago Railway and Locomotive Society chairman Campbell Thompson, who asked for a dedicated discretionary fund for non-profit groups involved in industrial heritage.
Staff recommended the idea be rejected, as industrial heritage was not a current priority.
The committee heard the $40,000 Dunedin heritage fund, used to help restore built heritage, was unlikely to be available for "movable heritage", as the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which helped run the fund, would not agree to widen its parameters.
Cr Teresa Stevenson complained the heritage fund was under-utilised and under-promoted, but Cr Fliss Butcher responded by reminding Cr Stevenson she was the council appointee to the fund, and questioned why she had not done something about the problem.
The committee voted not to support the fund, but noted reports on the heritage fund, and how the council supported other heritage assets, were due early next year.
