The building closed on November 30 because an engineering report identified it as an earthquake risk.
At that time, it was said the building would be inspected and remedial work designed and undertaken by the end of this year.
However, the building has still not been inspected and Minister of Court Chester Borrows is now saying work will not start before the end of the year.
Mr Borrows was to visit Oamaru tomorrow, but his visit with Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has been postponed because of a bereavement.
Mr Borrows said yesterday any remediation work would be based on information taken by the Ministry of Justice in respect of the Dunedin Courthouse.
He added until that remediation approach was finalised, the ministry would not be in a position to instruct engineers to proceed with detailed design work and costings for the Oamaru Courthouse.
However, Mrs Dean is wanting design work done sooner, pointing out the materials and structure of the Oamaru Courthouse are different from those of Dunedin's.
Mr Borrows said as the planning was expected to take several weeks, it was likely remediation work on the Oamaru Courthouse would not start before the end of this year.
In the meantime, arrangements made to provide court services and hearings in Oamaru would continue. Collections hearings would start at the Oamaru Opera House this week.
Signage at the Oamaru Courthouse and the Work and Income building, where court staff have been based since March 9, should be completed in the next couple of weeks.
Family, criminal and traffic hearings are now being heard at the Oamaru Opera House.
Mrs Dean said the temporary operational arrangements implemented following the Oamaru court closure late last year were operating successfully.
She said the ministry had been working to identify longer-term solutions for the provision of court services while planning the earthquake strengthening.
"I'm pleased our town's fine courthouse building is to be made safe without changes to its classical features," she said.
