A final assessment of what it will cost to bring the Oamaru Courthouse up to earthquake standards is edging closer.
The historic category 1-listed building was left vacant in November 2011 after it was deemed an earthquake risk, and although an original estimate from the Ministry of Justice put the cost of required building work at $5 million, Minister for Courts Chester Borrows has been evaluating options since a new engineering assessment was commissioned last November.
A spokesman for Mr Borrows said this week the minister was ''confident'' the assessment of options for the 129-year-old building would be completed in the next few weeks.
''We are waiting for assessments to be completed and the results and information to be analysed before any decisions will be made on what needs to be done to improve the building's earthquake compliance.''
