No approach on court alternative

The Dunedin City Council has not been approached about Carisbrook being used as an alternative court venue in the event of the Dunedin courthouse failing its seismic assessment, city property manager Robert Clark says.

While the Dunedin courthouse seismic assessment is awaited, rumours have surfaced that Carisbrook is being considered as an alternative venue.

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The University of Otago's moot court for jury trials is also rumoured.

Parts of Carisbrook would probably be suitable if required, Mr Clark said.

"There are some fairly usable spaces there."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the Dunedin courthouse seismic assessment should be out before Christmas, possibly within the next week.

Decisions about an alternative venue would be made only after the assessment was in.

"I think all options are on the table."

"Our preference will be to keep services in Dunedin."

He had not heard rumours that cases might transfer to Carisbrook or the University of Otago.

He agreed it was possible arrest cases would be heard at the Dunedin Central Police Station, as that had happened in other centres, he said.

Dunedin courthouse criminal case flow manager Vance Kapene said he was getting tidied and packed in preparation for a move, just in case.

He did not know what the assessment held, and had not spotted engineers going about doing checks.

The possibility of new venues was a hot topic for lawyers and others who worked at the courthouse, and everyone had an opinion, Mr Kapene said.

- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz