Is the Cargo Shed - that monument to all things utilitarian and occupying prime waterfront real estate on Dive Crescent - worth saving?

The Tauranga Historical Society has an opinion on that, and it's a 'yes”.

The future of the shed was added to the society's meeting agenda last week after Tauranga City Council decide upgrades to the shed would not be continued. In turn, the society issued a succinct and unequivocal statement.

'Simply, the society would like to see the Cargo Shed maintained as a tangible reminder of Tauranga's commercial and industrial history.”

There is history in those bones. The Cargo Shed was part of a group of structures associated with the development of rail and shipping facilities in the 1920s.

It has been identified as the main cargo-handling shed associated with the port before the development of the deep water port at Mount Maunganui in the 1950s. More recently, it was home to an art and craft collective.

However, Tauranga City Council decided that on the back of a geotechnical assessment, they will not be proceeding with some previously-planned internal upgrades, citing the Cargo Shed's susceptibility to seismic events as the chief cause of their decision.

It leaves the future of the building up in the air.

The Historical Society says it's disappointed that they weren't consulted before such decisions were made. However, council says public consultation isn't carried out for business as usual work.

'However, if any substantive works are proposed in the future, wider consultation is likely and relevant stakeholders would be notified at an appropriate time,” says Brigid McDonald, council's city development manager.

'To us, it looks like a lovely old building,” says Alistair Melvin of the Historical Society, 'and we have precious few left in the city.”

The Cargo Shed isn't recorded on the Heritage New Zealand register. Interestingly, only parts of the building have a Category C Heritage Building classification under The City Plan – the east and west elevations, the original interior timber trusses, the original roof framing, bracing and fixings and the impressive sliding timber-framed and steel clad doors with gear.

By way of comparison, the Blacksmiths at the Historic Village is also a Category C Heritage building. A ‘B' is the likes of the War Memorial gates at Wharepai Domain, while an ‘A' is the recently refurbished old Post Office on Harington Street.

Alistair Melvin says earthquake-proofing of the Cargo Shed is a question that could be put to council, but that would come at some considerable cost to ratepayers.

'A high-level estimate would be around $1m,” says Brigid McDonald. 'That's the cost relating to both strengthening the foundation and the renovation of the shed itself.

'This is indicative only, and we do not propose carrying out further work before the future of the Dive Crescent area has been determined.”

Discussions about the future of Dive Crescent are underway, but at the moment, the land the Cargo Shed sits on is in the care of the Crown.

Until the land is in the name of the council and the Otamataha Trust, and a decision has been made on the long-term development of Dive Crescent, expenditure on the Cargo Shed will only be for general and ongoing maintenance.

For its part, the Historical Society would like the Cargo Shed preserved and re-offered to art and craft groups and various community groups that used it previously.

'That seems like a good use for it,” says Alistair. 'On the shoreline, right on the edge of the city, it's in an ideal location.”