CONSTRUCTION of the Armidale Courthouse will resume later this month after work was halted earlier this year when the construction company National Buildplan was placed in voluntary administration.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said the Attorney General Greg Smith SC has confirmed with him that most of the project was complete and the state-of-the-art courthouse was expected to be operating by the beginning of 2014.
“This is great news for the Armidale community which is in need of new court facilities to meet its present and future needs,” Mr Marshall said.
“The work required to complete Armidale Courthouse includes fitting out courtrooms, the registry, office space and interview rooms and installing electricity, an air-conditioning system, lifts and security systems.
“Electricians will be on site next week and full construction will resume by the end of the month.”
Mr Marshall said the NSW Department of Finance and Services (DFS) had taken over the management of construction, after the previous builders went into voluntary administration.
The Attorney General also confirmed the State Government’s commitment to the important infrastructure project.
“Following the National Buildplan setback, the Government immediately sought legal advice on the steps that needed to be taken to complete the courthouse,” Mr Smith said.
“It makes sense to engage DFS’s experienced NSW Public Works division, which is already managing the delivery of three other government projects that were previously in the hands of National Buildplan.”
Mr Marshall said the 3300m2 courthouse will include a trial court capable of accommodating up to 15 jurors and a local court with an enclosed dock for prisoners.
A multi-purpose room will be available for use as a call-over court or as a jury assembly room.
“There will be a private area for victims of crime to give ‘in-camera’ evidence, 10 interview rooms, a room for video conferencing meetings, facilities for the Aboriginal Community Justice Group and Circle Sentencing program and offices for a range of other agencies,” he said.
“Prisoners will be escorted between the nearby justice facilities via a secure passageway.”
