Whanganui proposal to increase focus on city's heritage buildings

The AE Kitchen building on Victoria Ave. Photo / Bevan Conley

Major standouts of this year's Whanganui District Council Annual Plan include improvements to the port and flight school but Councillor Helen Craig is pushing for the Whanganui community to also have their say on developing a heritage strategy.

The proposal included in the Annual Plan will see $80,000 put forward to develop ideas to best protect and maintain the city's oldest buildings.

Craig said the council is already working hard to preserve heritage buildings, but a more effective and methodical approach is needed.

"The clock is ticking on our buildings, age is playing a factor along with requirements to earthquake strengthen, but we have a potential goldmine if we can make the most of our past for the future," she said.

"Our built heritage is probably the most significant in New Zealand, we have something very special here and I believe it's worth doing everything we can to preserve it."

Copies of the Annual Plan are available at the library, council office and on the Whanganui District Council website. Submissions close on April 24 at 4pm.