Heritage Activity Management Plan 2015-2025

Executive summary

This Plan covers the activities occurring in and around heritage facilities owned by Council including Heritage Houses, Founders Heritage Park, the Nelson Provincial Museum and historic memorial sites. Heritage activities with community wide impact such as the Heritage Project Fund, Heritage Awards and Heritage Week are also included in this Plan.

Heritage buildings are an important asset for Nelson City. They provide a sense of place for residents and contribute to Nelson’s unique identity. They have the potential to add economic value by contributing to Nelson’s image, both as a destination and as specific attractions for tourists.

Council’s three Heritage Houses (Isel, Melrose and Broadgreen) have quite different costs and uses by the public. The changes to Melrose House to make it suitable for a new use have demonstrated the ability of such an approach to significantly improve visitor numbers and the community’s level of interaction with a heritage asset. Adaptive reuse of Isel and Broadgreen Historic House could be considered in the future to encourage greater community use. Better linkages between all heritage facilities, and sharing resources more equitably between them, will improve management of Council's contribution in this area.

Isel has been earthquake strengthened to 97% of the new Building Standard. Work is to be completed on Broadgreen Historic House in 2013/14, and is likely to be completed on Melrose House in 2014/15.

Founders Heritage Park is performing well at present. Council will continue to encourage revenue from commercial activities to maintain this development.

The major issue facing heritage assets around New Zealand is earthquake prone risks. The Christchurch earthquakes triggered a complete reappraisal, at the national level, of appropriate responses to seismic risk. Existing legislation would have required these issues to be addressed but the timeframes, standards and community expectations have all changed since the Christchurch earthquakes.

Council’s Property and Facilities Asset Management Plan (to be developed in 2014) will tackle the specific earthquake strengthening needs of each of Council’s heritage buildings. However this is an issue affecting all heritage buildings in Nelson. The Council needs to balance public safety and the value we place on protecting heritage, and the costs of that protection.

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Download Heritage Activity Management Plan 2015-2025 (665KB PDF)