MORE than 100 years after the last substantial courtrooms were built in Wagga, justice is about to move into the 21st Century with two new courts about to be opened.
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The facilities are part of a $17 million renovation and upgrade of the Wagga courthouse.
Finishing touches are being applied that officials expect will allow the local and district courts to use new rooms by next week.
Member for Wagga, Daryl Maguire, said opening of the courtrooms would be a key milestone in the project, which includes a two-storey building.
“We are there, as promised,” Mr Maguire said.
The new building has a large jury trial court with a public gallery that can fit 45 people.
It also includes a temporary local court that will be used while the heritage courthouse is renovated.
It is not known precisely when renovations to the 114-year-old current local and district courtrooms will start, but Mr Maguire said the whole project was due to be finished by September.
He said when completed, the court facilities would be among the most technologically-advanced in NSW.
As well as new courtrooms, the development includes airport-style security, two new private rooms for vulnerable witnesses, such as sexual assault victims and children, to give ‘in camera’ evidence and a new registry for court staff.
There is also a ‘safe room’ for victims of domestic violence and their children.
The new facilities were welcomed by the president of the South West Slopes Law Society, Maggie Orman.
Ms Orman noted that new courtrooms were mooted as far back as 1991.
The promises became reality in 2014 when the Coalition government’s annual budget included $15 million for the project.
“We are glad it’s here and we are happy the builders have met the deadlines,” Ms Orman said.
“There is more room for practitioners and better facilities for the judiciary – the magistrates and judges.”
Ms Orman also noted improved waiting facilities for people with matters before the court.
Mr Maguire said the court precinct had doubled in size from 1535 square metres to 3655 square metres.
He said the project had also provided a significant boost for the local economy through more than 87 tradesmen working on the site over the past 15 months.
Attorney General Gabrielle Upton said the project would mean better justice services for Wagga.
“The new building will deliver state-of-the-art court facilities to deliver fast, fair and accessible justice in the Riverina,” Ms Upton said.
The courthouse redevelopment also includes a new telephone number.
People wanting to call the court must now use the number of the NSW court service centre. The number is 1300 679272.
The heritage courthouse was built between 1899 and 1902 and includes a large clock tower.
There have been only minor changes since then.
See our progress photos of the redevelopment taken in December.
