DCC enters battle over courthouse

David Clark.
David Clark.
The Dunedin City Council has joined the battle to save Dunedin's historic courthouse, writing to several Government ministers to highlight the building's plight.

The five letters, from Mayor Dave Cull on behalf of the council, requested discussions with the ministers, explained the Dunedin community's interest in the building, and detailed concerns over the Ministry of Justice's management of the situation.

The letters stemmed from Dunedin barrister Anne Stevens' statement to the council last month, in which she suggested the decision to save or abandon the courthouse would be a financial one.

She called for council support in lobbying the Government to retain court services at the historic complex.

The letters were sent on Monday to:

• Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key.

• Minister of Finance Bill English.

• Minister of Justice and Minister for Courts Amy Adams.

• Minister of Police Michael Woodhouse.

• Minister of Culture and Heritage Maggie Barry.

The letters requested:

• An opening of dialogue between ministers and the council.

• An ''unequivocal commitment'' to return court services to the courthouse;

• The Government show leadership in the earthquake-strengthening of heritage buildings under its stewardship.

The mayor appealed to Mr Woodhouse ''as a Dunedin resident'', asking him to help advocate ''on behalf of this important building and precinct''.

He appealed to Mr Key as Tourism Minister, citing the significant tourism and marketing benefits the building offered to Dunedin.

Mr English was asked to consider the significant cost of the city's temporary rent-a-court facilities, while the mayor highlighted to Mrs Adams the ''growing concerns over the protracted timeframes, process, and costs of the seismic upgrade of the historic Dunedin courthouse'', saying the ''paucity of information'' and ''lack of direct engagement'' were fuel for speculation.

The Otago Daily Times requested comment from each of the ministers yesterday.

They were asked to comment on the mayor's broader statements, and on the specific statements directed at them.

The ministers responded collectively, via a short statement from Mrs Adams ''on behalf of the Government''.

''My office has received Mayor Cull's letter and I'll consider it in due course. I'm aware of the concerns from the local community and I'm awaiting the business case from my officials before making any decisions.''

She said it was her ''intention and expectation'' that the courthouse building be strengthened and returned to full service.

Dunedin North and Labour MP David Clark called that response ''a shocking indictment on the Government''.

Ministers were ''obfuscating and refusing to engage'' on an issue being championed by ''elected local members''.

''I would have thought that they would have leaped at the opportunity to engage in dialogue.''

Dr Clark said specific ministers choosing not to answer the media's specific questions showed ''the growing arrogance of this government. It's clearly out of touch with the interests of Dunedin and wider Otago.''

craig.borley@odt.co.nz

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