C&R Reject Greater Heritage Assistance

Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) councillors on Auckland City Council's City Development Committee today knocked back an attempt by City Vision's Glenda Fryer to increase spending on built and natural heritage from $50,000 to $600,000 and $50,000 to $100,000 respectively.

"Auckland City needs to lift its game on heritage" says Councillor Fryer. "Christchurch City Council budgets $1 million a year and Wellington City allocates $350,000 annually for heritage. Auckland City Council's current budget of $100,000 for built and natural heritage is just not enough. We are not a 'world class' city when it comes to giving assistance to owners of scheduled heritage properties to upgrade their homes and buildings. We could be more correctly termed a 'third class' city."

Councillor Fryer says that "owners of heritage buildings are badly let down by Auckland City Council. Many only need a small amount of assistance to keep their heritage buildings in good order. For example, some scheduled buildings are owned by Churches who are always strapped for funds and find it difficult to get the cash to maintain their building. Council needs to do its part by assisting owners because a 'public good' element is present when historic homes and buildings are scheduled and able to be enjoyed by the general public.

"The Mayor has professed his new found love of heritage as part of his 'transmogrification' so I challenge him and his C&R team to do the right thing during the final budget decisions next week by increasing the heritage budget to make us a truly 'world class' city," Councillor Fryer concludes.

ENDS

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