Tag: Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library

Public Forum Presentation to the
Waipuna Hallswell Hornby Riccarton Community Board
From Historic Places Canterbury (HPC)
Tuesday 29th March 2022

Public Forum Presentation to the
Waipuna Hallswell Hornby Riccarton Community Board
From Historic Places Canterbury (HPC)
Tuesday 29th March 2022

Chair, Councillors and Community Board Members,


"Thank You" for allowing me to make this Public Forum presentation.
My name is Mark Gerrard and I am Chair of the heritage NGO Historic Places Canterbury.
This presentation is to inform you of Historic Places Canterbury's reservations about a report recently presented to the Council and presumably passed by the Board, on the proposed demolition of the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library.
Our concerns about the report are the following:
HPC could not find a Heritage Assessment from the Council Heritage Team
HPC found no mention of the Council Heritage Strategy “Our Heritage Our Taonga”
No public Engagement.
Very recently, I made a personal Deputation expressing the same concerns on a report to the Waikura Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board on the proposed demolition of Woodham Park Caretaker's Residence.
That Board chose to have the report lay on the table whilst:
A Heritage Assessment of the Woodham Park Caretaker's Residence was conducted and a Public Engagement for possible future community use was carried out.
Those of you with longer memories will recall we almost lost the Yaldhurst Memorial Hall in similar circumstances. Responding to a HPC presentation, assurances were given then, there would be a change in management procedures ensuring the Heritage Team would be brought in earlier in the CCC decision making process, to advise and assess.
HPC considers the Community Boards as often, having the best appreciation of your Heritage. As the local guardians of your heritage, HPC asks that you be vigilant in this your role.
HPC recognises that often the Board can only make recommends to the full Council. HPC is of the belief that where there is a possibility Heritage may be involved, you require any report that is to be received:
Address the Council Heritage Policy “Our Heritage Our Taonga”
Ask/ensure the Council Heritage Team’s input/advice be sought
On a more broader issue HPC considers when it comes to the future of a Council owned building with a social history, the default setting should be Public Engagement to ascertain if there is a community use for it. This should occur before any decisions and reports about its future eg sale or demolition, are written.
The Council's Heritage Strategy has been broadened and includes social history, it recognises, as we all should, the importance of "Our Heritage, Our Taonga".
Thank You for listening to this Presentation.
Mark Gerrard
Chair Historic Places Canterbury

“Temporary reprieve for 103-year-old war memorial” The Press on line article (10:03:2022)

Temporary reprieve for 103-year-old war memorial - The press

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/128012983/temporary-reprieve-for-103yearold-war-memorial

HPC Chair Mark Gerrard quote along with Christchurch Civic Trust Chair Ross Grey

Historic Places Canterbury Public Forum Presentation to the Christchurch City Council 10.03.2022

Historic Places Canterbury Public Forum Presentation to the Christchurch City Council

Thursday, 10th March 2022

Mayor and Councillors,

Thank You for allowing me to make this presentation.

Historic Places Canterbury (HPC) has concerns about the processes leading up to and the decision to demolish the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library. 

Our major concerns are the following:

Lack of Extensive Community Engagement.

HPC considers the community and stakeholders should have had a say in the future of this iconic building, on site since 1919.

After HPC raised its concerns publicly; a Christchurch RSA has been in touch expressing an interest. For myself, within a minute of finishing my live interview with Radio New Zealand’s Jessie Mulligan, a property developer rang asking about strengthening costs. There is interest in the community. 

HPC has received an usually large number of emails expressing opposition to the proposed demolition.

HPC has been told that regular ANZAC services were held at the Library with an attendance of 200 odd people, chairs were lent by the adjacent Spagalimis and a local bakery opening up early to supply food.

Why will the CCC not work with the community to retain and determine a future for this building?

No Heritage Assessment included in the Report to Council.

The CCC Heritage Team did not provide a formal heritage assessment of the building. The question needs to be raised, why were they not asked? A 1919 building called the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library, any reasonable Christchurch Resident would conclude it should have been assessed by the CCC Heritage Team before a recommendation to demolish.

Surely the CCC should be leading by example? This is a case where Leadership was required.

Some of the Councillors may recall similar circumstances occurred with the Yaldhurst Memorial Hall. We were given assurances then, it would not happen again.

Stating the building was not listed with the HNZPT or scheduled in the District Plan so it has little heritage relevance, the cost, no economic use (as assessed by CCC Staff) are similar arguments used regularly by Property Developers when they plan to demolish. Surely the CCC can do better and lead by example?

CCC Heritage Strategy- Our Heritage Out Taonga

I could find no reference to this Strategy in the report to Council. 

The question is being asked what is the value of this much consulted and supported strategy that a 1919 War Memorial Library Building does not warrant an assessment yet alone a reference to the Strategy in a CCC Report?

Jock Philips in his book “To the Memory” observed there was a transition from Sculptural Monuments (South African/WW1) to Living Memorials (like the WW 2 Memorial Halls). This Library Building, a Living WW1 Memorial, the first of severn, could be significant. It awaits the CCC Heritage Team to make this assessment.

Mark Gerrard 

Chair Historic Places Canterbury

Heritage on RNZ “Afternoons with Jessie Mulligan” : Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library

Historic Places Canterbury Chair Mark Gerrard interviewed on RNZ "Afternoons with Jessie Mulligan":

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018830938/fears-for-103-year-old-war-memorial-building

Topics covered include the demolition of the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library, the building is the Memorial, the importance of heritage, adaptive reuse and why we have and should be protecting our World War Two memorial halls.

Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library Demolition : Media Coverage

Heritage advocates outraged at plans to demolish 103-year-old memorial library The Press online article.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/127769502/heritage-advocates-outraged-at-plans-to-demolish-103yearold-memorial-library

Historic Places Canterbury Chair Mark Gerrard, Chirstchurch Civic Trust Chair and Dame Anna Crighton quoted.

RNZ Afternoons with Jessie Mulligan
Historic Places Canterbury Chair Mark Gerrard interviewed on decision to demolish Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018830938/fears-for-103-year-old-war-memorial-building

Historic Places Canterbury / Christchurch Civic Trust Media Release “Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library”

Media Release: Demolition of the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library
Monday 14th February 2022

From Historic Places Canterbury and the Christchurch Civic Trust

"Historic Places Canterbury and the Christchurch Civic Trust call upon the Christchurch City Council to abandon its decision to demolish The Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library."

Background:
The Christchurch City Council (CCC) decided at the 10th February meeting to take over the ownership and demolish the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library. The Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library dating back to 1919 is the first of seven built to commemorate the fallen of World War One. (The Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library consists of the Library and the Annex.)

Historic Places Canterbury (HPC) Chair Mark Gerrard:
"It is a shock the Christchurch City Council (CCC) decided to demolish the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library, dedicated to the fallen of World War One, without extensive consultation with the community and heritage/interested stakeholders.

"The Report does not contain or refer to any type of heritage assessment of the Memorial Library by the CCC Heritage Team.
"The CCC should have shown leadership and had the Heritage Team formally assess the building(s) suitability to be protected by scheduling on the District Plan.

"The Council's "Our Heritage, Our Taonga" Strategy Executive Summary states "...We work together to recognise, protect and celebrate our heritage, ..." Surely this is a case where the Council and its Staff should have made an effort, to honour its own Heritage Strategy and decided to retain the building.

"A copy of the DEE (Detail Engineering Evaluation) was not attached to the report. For transparency it should have been included so it could be peer reviewed.

"Historic Places Canterbury considers the Upper Riccarton Memorial Library to be a living social link to an extremely significant  event in our past which should be preserved for our future generations.

Christchurch Civic Trust Chair Ross Gray:
"It is distressing the CCC did not actively reach out and seek an alternative for this much loved local iconic building which has a significant social history.

"This Memorial Library has stood for more than 100 years as a symbol to the fallen of World War One.  It was the first of seven such libraries. The CCC should show moral leadership and recognise this building is special by retaining it.

"I cannot find any reference to the CCC "Our Heritage Strategy, Our Taonga" (under Criteria for Retaining Council Property) in the report to the Council Meeting.
"Why was the CCC's Heritage Strategy "Our Heritage ,Our Taonga" not considered in the Report?

"The Residents of Christchurch might question why they spent time and effort submitting on "Our Heritage, Our Taonga" strategy, when in this case, it appears not to have been taken seriously by the Council and its Staff.

Dame Anna Crighton: 
‘What is wrong with the current generation who seem to be hell bent on erasing memories of our past?  This memorial exists to commemorate and honour those Cantabrians who died in World War 1. It is a tangible reminder of that sacrifice. 

‘Whaka- aturia nga mahi a o koutou tupuna hei raukura ma nga uri whaka- tupu.  Bring to light the achievements of your ancestors, gifts handed down through the generations to be handed on to the descendants yet unborn”.

Mark Gerrard
Chair Historic Places Canterbury

Ross Gray
Chair Christchurch Civic Trust