A "proper discussion" about whether to give the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust more financial assistance was needed.
Mr Kircher, a Waitaki District Council representative on the trust, this week said there had been "numerous discussions" about increased financial assistance in the past.
"The trust does an impressive job of looking after our old buildings. And those buildings have increasingly become more important to Waitaki and New Zealand.
"If we don’t want to see them all go to overtly commercial top-end rentals, then we’ve got to look at how we can ensure the costs of restoration and maintenance of these fine buildings can be met, while keeping an interesting variety of businesses and attractions within them,"Mr Kircher said.
When the council of the day set up the trust in 1989, it said it would put in $1million to help protect the 19th century Oamaru stone buildings, he said.
"Half of that was done. The $1 million wasn’t."
Instead, an interest-free loan of $100,000 was made to the trust to upgrade the buildings and later a loan of up to $500,000, of which the trust had drawn down $440,000, but the council was covering most of the interest on that.
"So we’re paying ourselves. It’s a bit of a money-go-round, but it’s more transparent than if we give them interest-free."
The trust was expected to pay back the loan and had started to do so in the latter part of last year, Mr Kircher said. At Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Jan Wheeler asked if "any thought" had gone into creating a "code or programme" to establish "the type of tenant" that was desired in Harbour St.
In February, the trust faced some controversy after it served notice on a Harbour St art gallery to vacate its premises so a new tenant could use the top floor of the Loan and Merc building for jacket storage.
The trust did not immediately respond to questions about whether there were written rules or regulations regarding a tenant’s suitability, or whether the trust needed further financial assistance from the council.
But a trust representative, who is not authorised to speak to the media, referred the Otago Daily Times to the trust’s constitution. One of the 11 aims the trust was established to pursue reads: "To encourage where it is considered desirable the use of historic buildings for tourist and commercial purposes promoting employment and business opportunities for the citizens of North Otago."
In the trust’s submission to the council’s long-term plan, the trust’s operations manager, Dr Mark Smith, called for "greater support" for the trust.
He noted suggestions for financial assistance from previous years, including an amenity rate to support the historic precinct, grants and a loan as means of council assistance.
