Alternative court complex site floated for Burnie's CBD

Councillor Ken Dorsey will move a motion at next week's monthly meeting, asking the council to "open negotiations with the state government and owner of the property on the corner of Ladbrooke and Wilson Street to relocate the court to this location".

Cr Dorsey said he had contacted the general manager, the mayor and the property owner about it, and believed the council would vote in favour of opening discussions.

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"I actually think it's a great idea. It's one thing to have a problem, it's another to have a solution," he said.

"It's perfect, it's next door to the police station, it's in town, it's in the entry to the city, it's going to lift the whole city."

The state government has already begun the process of redeveloping the site, but Cr Dorsey said he believed the government was bound to do what the community wanted them to do "to an extent".

"They have a building up there and it's not suitable and they're going to spend $40 million ... at $15 million it made sense, but at $40 million this makes sense," he said, gesturing to the building behind him.

The block in question, 100-102 Wilson Street, lies directly across the road from the police station, and is owned through a family trust by Melbourne-based architect Malcolm Elliott.

Mr Elliott said he believed the state had the opportunity to create a "signature or gateway building" within Burnie's CBD, and that his block was just one possibility.

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"This is not just about the property at 100-102 Wilson St, as it represents just one of several appropriate properties within the CBD," he explained.

"The location of the new courthouse in the CBD is a win- win outcome for both the community and existing businesses."

The architect also pointed out that "fragmenting" a city to save on land costs was "counterproductive", and undermined modern planning policies around sustainability.

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"What is the point of creating a new "green building" away from the CBD that is linked to services already provided in the CBD?" he asked.

"This is ... only going to generate more greenhouse gas emissions through the need travel back and forth from the city, whether that be by private transport or the need to significantly revise the public transport system.

"Other costs that are important to consider would include police resources in travelling back and forth, lawyers time costs, fuel, vehicle maintenance ... All these issues need to be considered for the possible 40 plus year lifespan of such a building. These costs would far exceed any land cost."

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Attorney General Elise Archer said consultation with other stakeholders was "well underway", including police.

She also said the old university site offered scope for future co-locations with other services.

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