Two groups believe funding should be provided for a district heritage co-ordinator to protect and celebrate Central Otago's "rich heritage''.
Heritage New Zealand and the Central Otago Heritage Trust have both told the Central Otago District Council of the need for a role dedicated to heritage.
The trust has asked for an annual grant of $38,000 so that it can employ a part-time heritage co-ordinator, while Heritage New Zealand has said the council itself should directly employ a heritage planner or co-ordinator.
"This could initially be trialled as a project post and potentially a shared position with other councils in the area,'' Heritage New Zealand Otago Southland manager Jonathan Howard said in a submission to the district council's annual plan.
"Central Otago is one of New Zealand's richest and most diverse districts in terms of historic heritage.''
Heritage was an important aspect of social, environmental and cultural wellbeing.
The district's rich heritage was a visitor attraction, and the resulting economic contribution was a strong reason for the council to "proactively lead the protection and promotion of the district's heritage resources,'' he said.
Heritage New Zealand would continue to support the council on heritage issues but was increasingly focusing on safeguarding heritage of national importance.
This focus might mean the organisation's staff would no longer be able to become involved in matters where they had previously provided specialist advice, particularly on character and streetscape, Mr Howard said.
"... Heritage New Zealand considers it crucial that council increases its in-house expertise and capacity in this area.''
A heritage co-ordinator could work with local volunteer heritage organisations to implement the district's 2012 heritage strategy.
The person could liaise with heritage building owners about strengthening buildings and re-use, help owners deal with the council over heritage building upgrades and re-use, provide advice for owners, establish heritage incentives, write information brochures for heritage building owners and prepare design guidelines for heritage precincts, among other things, Mr Howard said.
Trust chairman Graye Shattky said the heritage initiative could be set up in a similar way to the Central Otago District Arts Trust, and funding would be provided to allow the group to employ a part-time co-ordinator.
The heritage trust would employ the person and establish a Central Otago office.
Mr Shattky said Central Otago's heritage relied on the efforts of the voluntary organisations now represented by the trust.
The volunteers were mostly retired people.
The groups were becoming overwhelmed by the complexity of the issues they faced, by shortening timeframes in which a response or action was needed and by constrained funding, he said.
