The Dunedin City Council is to consider whether it can intervene to secure the future of Dunedin's historic courthouse.
Cr David Benson-Pope called for a report on the building at yesterday's finance committee meeting, ''so we can decide on what, if any, course of action we would like to follow''.
The move came after the Ministry of Justice announced the indefinite closure of the lower Stuart St courthouse, which has been partially closed since December 2011.
Cr Benson-Pope said the building was one of the city's top 10 heritage buildings, and the latest announcement ''fills me with some alarm''.
''The idea that it should be left closed, especially in that precinct, fills me with great concern, and I think we need to address the matter,'' he said.
The council report would be prepared as soon as possible and brought back to a council committee once finished.
