Plans in progress to move Burnie’s court complex out of the city centre

Plans to move Burnie’s court complex out of the city centre into the suburbs are progressing. Now Burnie residents want their say. LATEST >>

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LABOR says the jury is out on the government's plan to move the Burnie court complex to a residential/education precinct outside the CBD and it is time the local community was heard on the issue.

Braddon MP Anita Dow said the government needed to “comprehensively engage” with the Burnie community on its proposal to move the complex to the former UTAS campus in Mooreville Rd rather than its original plan to refurbish the existing complex.

Anita Dow. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor Member for Braddon Anita Dow said the Liberals had promised $15 million for a new Burnie Court in 2018 and committed to redeveloping the current site in the Burnie CBD.

“Like the new Burnie Ambulance Station promised in 2018, this is another example of a project failed to be delivered by this government,” Ms Dow said.

“After three years of little to no action the government is now planning to relocate the court to a residential area, and it’s not good enough that there has been no community consultation.

“It makes little sense to move the Court outside of the Burnie CBD, and there has been considerable concerns raised by the Burnie business community, local residents and the legal professionals in the city.”

Burnie Supreme & Magisterial Court

But the government said it was continuing to progress the redevelopment of the Burnie Court Complex.

“Design works and pre-planning matters are continuing to be worked through in consultation with stakeholders, with the Department of Justice convening several stakeholder consultation groups to provide valuable input as the project proceeds.

“Importantly, consultation will continue to occur with the council and the community at appropriate stages of the project, to ensure that the new facility meets the needs of the courts, court users and the community.

“Labor went to the May 1 Election with a commitment to keep the court in the CBD and the Liberals should commit to the same.”

The government accused Labor of continued to show negativity and chaotic flip-flopping on important issues.

“Their Shadow Minister for Justice previously supported our plan, only to backflip at the last election,” a spokesman said.