Three CBD sites being considered for new Burnie court complex

Three properties in Burnie’s CBD have been earmarked as potential sites of a new court complex. HERE’S WHERE >>

THREE sites have been chosen by the state government as potential sites for a new Burnie court complex including one which is being kept confidential.

One property is the former headquarters of The Advocate Newspaper, currently leased by the Department of State Growth, and its adjoining print centre.

Another is in Wilson St near the Burnie Police Station which has recently been significantly refurbished after the exit of a long-term tenant.

The third is not being disclosed.

Burnie Mayor Steve Kons, who owns a lot of property in the city, said he was not the landlord of any of the buildings being considered.

Mr Kons said it was encouraging three sites in the CBD could be found and earmarked as potential sites although he was concerned the unpopular option of redeveloping the former Cradle Coast Campus of the UTAS was not completely off the table.

“Hopefully we will have an announcement in the New Year to give everyone some certainty about what will happen,” Mr Kons said.

The government started an expression of interest process to find a new site after the community backlash against its plan to convert the UTAS campus prompted it to re-examine what other options might be available in the CBD.

One of the potential sites of a new Burnie court complex

The UTAS campus is in a residential area near schools and aged care facilities.

The government said it was working with the community to deliver a replacement court complex which was fit for purpose but also met local expectations.

All three sites put up by the Department of Treasury and Finance for consideration are in the central city.

“The Department of Justice will now move quickly to start work with these proponents to determine the final project scope, assess the potential reuse of existing buildings, and prepare a cost estimate for development of each site,” Attorney-General Elise Archer said.

“This will then allow the department to make a fully informed assessment of the value proposition on any of these sites compared to the Mooreville Road site.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the community and seeing the next steps progress over the coming months, to enable this important project to proceed as soon as possible.”