Levin's New Courthouse Moves a Step Closer

Levin’s new state-of-the-art courthouse is a step closer after Horowhenua District Council granted Resource Consent for the temporary relocation of court activities to enable construction of the new premises to proceed.

The Ministry of Justice applied to HDC for resource consent because it anticipated it would not meet the level of compliance for parking on the Commercial 2-zoned land.

HDC Environment and Regulatory manager Tony Thomas said the Court was resuming its activity less than 100 metres down the road, on the same block of land, and it was deemed there would be no adverse effects.

“Council’s discretion is related to parking only. We have assessed what is there, current zoning and the temporary nature of the activity.”

“On-street parking is a public facility for all people. Neither residential nor commercial property owners can place limitations on it.”

The two-year temporary consent gives the Ministry of Justice time to convert its two residential dwellings, adjacent to the current courthouse, into a remedial courthouse in the interim.

Once the transition is complete, building of the new courthouse will start on the current site and is planned to be four times the size of the 104-year-old courthouse presently in use.

The modern facility will include two courtrooms, a 150-square-metre main courtroom, a multipurpose 100-square-metre courtroom, and a hearing and mediation room.

It will also have full security facilities and custodial facilities, segregated public waiting areas, a secure witness room, lawyers room, victims advisor room, client interview rooms for lawyers and police, and future proofing for further expansion.

The houses will revert back to residential use after its temporary conversion.

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