TIMARU DISTRICT COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE

13/06/2018

For Immediate Use

Volunteers sought for heritage group

Timaru District Council is offering people the opportunity to help protect the heritage of the district by being part of a heritage steering group.

The heritage steering group will make recommendations to the Council’s Environmental Services Committee on what heritage items should be listed in the Plan, and how items will be protected in the Plan.

Mark Geddes, District Planning Manager, said it is important to involve local experts and people who have an interest in our heritage in the decision making on how to protect heritage items.

“As these items are part of our local environment, we need members of the community to help decide which ones need protection under the district plan,” said Mark.

“The kind of person we’re looking for could be a member of a local heritage conservation group, or a member of the community with a known interest in heritage. They could also be a developer or architect with experience in working with heritage items.

“The members will be chosen by the Environmental Services Committee. Members will be volunteers and involvement in the group will make an important contribution to the management of our heritage.”

Instructions for expressing your interest in joining the Heritage Steering Group are on the website at timaru.govt.nz/heritage-nomination

Applications close on 20 June.

As part of the continuing work on the Timaru District Plan Review, the Council is also currently seeking nominations for items to add to its Schedule of Heritage Items.

“The district is fortunate to have a wealth of historic heritage in its buildings, places and monuments,” said Mark.

“The purpose of the nominations process is to identify items of heritage significance that have not already been offered a level of protection in the District Plan.

“The protection of historic heritage is a matter of national importance under the Resource Management Act 1991.”

Instructions about how to nominate a Heritage Item for consideration can be made on the Timaru District Council website at Timaru.govt.nz/new-heritage-item until 18 July.

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