Budget brings extra $10million for improved Kalgoorlie Courthouse

11/05/07 Plans to redevelop the old Kalgoorlie Warden's Court into a state-of-the-art high security court complex have been boosted in the State Budget with an additional $10million to increase the size of the new facility.

11/05/07
Plans to redevelop the old Kalgoorlie Warden's Court into a state-of-the-art high security court complex have been boosted in the State Budget with an additional $10million to increase the size of the new facility.
Attorney General Jim McGinty said the $31million project would now incorporate the entire heritage-listed Government Offices Building in central Hannan Street.
"The State Government took the opportunity to increase the size of the project when the area currently occupied by Australia Post became available," Mr McGinty said.
"The new courthouse project will have the capacity to provide a high quality court complex for the Goldfields long into the future.
"The building, with its iconic clock tower, was constructed in the 1890s at the height of the Gold Rush and includes the former Kalgoorlie Warden's Court.
"The court complex will include two magistrates' courts, a jury court and children's court with the provision to expand to five courts when needed.
"The new plans have open air waiting areas to ensure that people appearing in the court do not congregate on Hannan Street."
The Attorney General said the State Government had previously earmarked $21million for the project, which would have been limited to the section of the building which housed the old Warden's Court.
Features of the expanded project include:

  • greater security for child and protected witnesses;
  • improved audio-visual resources for vulnerable court users;
  • more rooms for mediation, court counselling and interviewing;
  • larger jury assembly facilities; and
  • more off-street parking for court users.
One courtroom in the complex will be designed in consultation with the local Aboriginal community and will be called the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community Court.
The Department of the Attorney General will now seek input on the new proposal from local people and groups including the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, police and magistrates.
Construction of the courthouse is due to start in September 2008 and is scheduled to be finished by March 2010.
Further information on the Kalgoorlie Courthouse project is available on the Department of the Attorney General's website at http://www.justice.wa.gov.au by clicking on Courts, Tribunals and Boards, then Court Building Developments.
Attorney General's office - 9422 3000