Media Releases

17 November 2010 

COALITION GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO PLAN FOR SHEPPARTON COURT COMPLEX - POWELL

A study to determine whether the Shepparton Court complex should be renovated or rebuilt will be commissioned under a Liberal Nationals Government, State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell announced today.
Mrs Powell said funding of $200,000 would be committed to the scoping study which will determine whether to renovate or rebuild on the current site.
“The Shepparton Magistrates' and County Courthouses are outdated, inadequate and unsafe and the complex is too small to cope with the current demand,” Mrs Powell said.
“The Brumby Government has ignored this problem for years but a Coalition Government will get on with the job of giving the Goulburn Valley the court facility it needs.”
Mrs Powell toured the complex earlier this year and saw firsthand the overcrowded, outdated conditions.
“I was appalled at the disgraceful conditions of the Courthouse with white ants and an air-conditioner that wasn’t working properly,” Mrs Powell said.
“I saw the lack of privacy for court users as there are not enough interview rooms. I saw lawyers interviewing clients in the corridor and on the streets,” she said.
Mrs Powell said the current court facilities did not meet the justice needs of such a large region.
“The Family Court has already refused to sit in Shepparton and the Federal Magistrates Court has indicated it will no longer sit in Shepparton when the air conditioning isn’t working,” she said.
Mrs Powell recently met with Charlotte Stockwell, the CEO of the Magistrates Court of Victoria and Ian Gray, the Chief Magistrate to reiterate the need for a fully functional, modern Court facility.
“The Goulburn Valley Law Association has been told the Shepparton courthouse has been on the state government’s priority list for upgrades for about 10 years.
“The current court complex cannot provide the facilities and services reasonably expected by a community of the size and diversity of the Shepparton region.”
“The scoping study will be an important tool in identifying the future design required for the Court Complex to adequately fulfil the needs of a progressive regional city,” Mrs Powell said.