The upgrade of the 134-year-old building is expected to take up to six months, meaning it could be back in use as a courthouse by April next year.
Oamaru’s legal community has welcomed the news, several lawyers saying it cannot come soon enough.
Preliminary dates for the long-awaited project were released this week.
The courthouse was closed in 2011 when it was identified as being at risk in an earthquake. Court has largely been held in a portable facility, known as the "porta-court", in Humber St since.
The Waitaki District Council first entered talks about taking over the building in 2014. In 2016, it bought the building from the Ministry of Justice for $1.
Once strengthened, the building will be leased back to the Ministry of Justice for use as the town’s courthouse.
An original government estimate to strengthen the courthouse was up to $6 million, but the council expects to be able to strengthen and upgrade the building for $900,000.
On Wednesday, council property manager Renee Julius received the proposed timeline for the development. Consents would be lodged in August, tenders called for in September and building was expected to begin in early November.
But the timeline was accompanied by a warning.
"The timeline is based on a best-case scenario and no allowances have been made for unexpected events or availability of contractors. However, we are working closely with the Ministry of Justice and will alert them to any potential delays as the project progresses."
She said this made it difficult to give an exact date when the courthouse would be open for business.
"A lot will depend on the availability of contractors. We are fortunate to have a lot of development going on in Oamaru at the moment. However, it does mean that contractors are not always available when you want them. We will have a better idea in October, once tenders have been awarded."
Oamaru lawyer Bill Dean, who publicly questioned the original cost estimate for strengthening the building, said it was good to have a start date for work to begin, but questioned why it was so far away.
"They know what they have to do; just do it."
He called the current court facilities "woefully inadequate" and suggested they were overcrowded and not fit for court use.
Lawyer Michael de Buyzer agreed, calling the temporary hearing room claustrophobic.
Any positive news about moving back to a revamped earthquake-strengthened building was good news, he said.
Lawyer Emma Middlemass said there had been many "frustrating" times in the porta-court so it was fantastic for Oamaru that court services would be returned to the courthouse.
"The sooner we can get into the courthouse the better for everyone concerned."
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, who is married to Bill Dean, said to have a date in place was great news. She acknowledged the work the council had done to get the project to this point, but said it had been "achingly slow".
"And in the meantime, frustration has been growing with visiting judges, and solicitors and people compelled to attend the porta-court."
She felt that once the work was completed, the council would have a "great contract" with the Ministry of Justice for court services. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher agreed the process had "dragged on".
"It’s taken up a huge amount of staff time, and councillor time and my time. We’re very pleased to be making this progress and looking forward to get the work under way."
