The Queenstown Lakes District Council has a new heritage strategy - but no money to put it into practice.
The council's strategy committee adopted the strategy yesterday only to be told there was no money available in the next year to begin implementing it.
Cr Cath Gilmour said it would be pointless if it was allowed to "sit on a shelf getting dusty".
"We had a lot of input from a lot of people with a lot of passion, but if it [the strategy] just sits on a shelf getting dusty, it's pointless.
Some of the actions could be done very quickly," she said.
Cr Gilmour said some actions could be put in place without costing the council any money.
Council senior policy analyst Sue Mavor said the purpose of the strategy was to preserve and celebrate the district's cultural heritage.
A working party began developing the strategy in May 2008 and released a discussion document two months later.
The party met regularly and prepared a draft strategy for public consultation.
Ms Mavor said nine submissions were received and meetings were held with other organisations, including the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, the Queenstown District Historical Society, the Department of Conservation and Destination Queenstown.
"The working party has taken all these submissions and comments from the meetings into account while revising and finalising the strategy," she said.
The final strategy identifies one priority action for each of the six issues and programmes over three years.
"Because of the current economic climate, actions that are a high priority but do not require high levels of funding to implement have been prioritised in the short-term action plan," she said.
None of the actions outlined in the strategy were specifically identified in the current 10-year plan.
The priority actions will need to be considered for funding by the council for the next 10-year plan.
The heritage strategy says heritage is of value to the Queenstown Lakes District, as it is unique and can stimulate investment, regeneration and tourism.
"However, heritage is finite. Once it is gone, it is gone.
"It's important that we preserve and protect heritage now so future generations can continue to appreciate and enjoy our unique cultural heritage," it says.
Goals the strategy identifies to ensure heritage values are protected:
• The district's heritage values, places and items are identified and documented.
• Heritage values, places and items are protected.
• Robust processes and enforcement are put in place to ensure that heritage values, places and items are protected.
• Heritage agencies and groups have a strong relationship and work together to protect heritage values, places and items.
• Residents and visitors are aware of, appreciate and protect heritage values, places and items.
• Accurate, up-to-date information on the extent and condition of heritage values, places and items in the district.
The strategy includes 82 actions in six categories, including identification of heritage values, places and items, recognition and protection, promotion and education and monitoring and review.
The strategy identifies which goals each action will address and sets priorities and costs.
Some actions were new or improved processes for council staff.
"These projects do not require such large budgets, as much of the work can be done in-house rather than paying for consultants.
"It makes sense in these times to concentrate on projects that are a high or medium priority but are of low or medium cost," it says.
