By Michaela Whitbourn
NSW’s busiest court complex will be shut for at least four weeks and some trials are set to be aborted after a burst water main in the Sydney CBD caused extensive flood damage to the building.
The Downing Centre in Sydney, a heritage-listed building that was formerly Mark Foy’s flagship department store, is the venue for thousands of Local and District Court hearings a year.
Sydney’s Downing Centre court complex.Credit: Rhett Wyman
A Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) spokesperson said on Thursday that the flooding from a burst water main on Castlereagh Street on Tuesday “caused extensive damage to the infrastructure of the building, including electricity, IT systems and other equipment”.
“As a result, the Downing Centre will be closed for at least four weeks. Assessment of the damage is ongoing, however it is clear that extensive repairs will be required which will take a lengthy period of time.
“Jurors currently empanelled in criminal trials in the Downing Centre will be contacted by the NSW Sheriff’s Office with further updates.”
[The] Downing Centre will be closed for at least four weeks. Assessment of the damage is ongoing.
NSW Department of Communities and Justice spokesperson
The Law Society of NSW said in an email to members that the chief judge of the District Court had advised that “it is inevitable that some part-heard trials will have to be aborted”.
The chief judge had also said the court’s “present focus is to complete trials that are part-heard, particularly those where the proceedings have been ongoing where the accused is in custody”, the society said.
The burst water main outside the Downing Centre in Sydney on Tuesday.Credit: Nine News
It is not yet clear which trials will be affected by the Downing Centre’s closure.
John Maddison Tower (JMT), which adjoins the Downing Centre, is also used for some hearings, including NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal matters. On Thursday, some criminal matters were proceeding in JMT.
The sexual assault trial of Kiama MP Gareth Ward, which had been taking place in the Downing Centre, was among hundreds of matters affected by the incident on Tuesday. It was relocated up the road to the historic Darlinghurst Court.
Thousands of people evacuated the Downing Centre court complex on Tuesday after a burst water main led to a power outage.Credit: Nine News
A mention for accused double murderer Beau Lamarre-Condon, the former NSW Police officer accused of killing couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, did not proceed as planned because the power outage forced an evacuation before the matter could be heard.
The DCJ spokesperson said the department would “issue further updates over the coming weeks as work is carried out to repair the damaged systems and to ensure the building is safe and fully operational prior to its reopening”.
“Judicial officers and court staff are making every effort to ensure matters are able to proceed wherever possible.”
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