Balclutha criminal hearings will not have their own dates when they shift to Dunedin next month.
Sitting in Gore yesterday, the Balclutha District Court was told by Judge Stephen Coyle it was the court's final sitting for the foreseeable future.
Since the Balclutha courthouse's closure in November 2011 because of its earthquake risk, criminal court hearings have been held in Gore. Family Court has been heard in Dunedin since early 2012.
''The effect on the Balclutha community has been significant,'' Judge Coyle said.
Dunedin judges had been ''keen to ensure'' there would be a nominated Balclutha court day in Dunedin, but the proposal did not ''find favour'' with the Ministry of Justice.
''There will not be a designated Balclutha day in Dunedin. It is, in effect, the end of Balclutha criminal court sittings ... unless the Ministry of Justice can find an alternate site in Balclutha.''
District courts general manager Tony Fisher said the ministry ''carefully considered'' whether to retain a separate list day or merge Balclutha appearances into the Dunedin list.
Last week Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan told the Otago Daily Times it was ''imperative'' to maintain a separate list for the Balclutha District Court while it was sitting in Dunedin.
''The natural justice is to be judged by their peers. We are an individual community in a large area - we have no direct affinity with Dunedin or Gore,'' he said.
Mr Fisher said the merger would mean Balclutha criminal cases would be heard more rapidly than they had been in the Balclutha District Court, which heard criminal cases only two days a month.
''This gives greater flexibility for all involved and helps us get cases through the courts faster, which is good for victims and others involved in the court system through no fault of their own, such as witnesses.''
The shift was the result of discussions with Corrections, New Zealand Police and the Ministry of Social Development, Mr Fisher said.
''The judiciary also said they would accommodate the shift if that was what stakeholders and court users wanted.''
However, with court hearings continuing to be held out of town, many issues for court users are left unresolved.
Balclutha resident Stephen Hurring contacted the Otago Daily Times with concerns over an ongoing travel problem attending court in Gore and Dunedin.
''I had to appear in Dunedin on July 29 at 10am. I went to the Balclutha police station to get a ride up on the day ... The earliest bus was at 10am, but I had to be at court at 10am.''
Mr Hurring called the courts to inform them he would be late but was put through first to Auckland, then Wellington and finally to Dunedin only to be told he was due to appear in Gore, not Dunedin.
At the end of February, the Balclutha registry office was closed and the town lost its two registrars. The move was part of the Ministry of Justice's decision to make nine courts, including Balclutha and Oamaru, hearing-only centres.
Yesterday, Mr Hurring spent several hours trying to hitchhike to Dunedin, in order to get to a court appearance.
''It's really frustrating. There is no public transport. If you don't have a car or a licence, how are you supposed to get to court?''
On another occasion Mr Hurring was summoned to appear in two different courts on one day - the Balclutha District Court, sitting in Gore, and the Dunedin District Court.
Mr Hurring said he hoped hearings would return to the Balclutha courthouse.
''I am aware there is debate around this decision, so we will continue to monitor the arrangements and make any adjustments that may be necessary,'' Mr Fisher said.
