Legal eagle: Barrister Peter Doyle outside the Campbelltown Council building on the corner of Queen and Broughton streets. Picture: Simon Bennett
Move Campbelltown Council to the western side of the railway and let state and federal courts move into the old building.
It’s an idea that councillor Paul Lake (independent) said would solve two problems in one hit.
Cr Lake said the idea of council moving had been talked about for a while but nothing had come to fruition.
Local legal eagles have recently campaigned for the courts in Campbelltown – already at capacity – to be expanded.
A mutli-jurisdictional precinct would mean family court matters could be heard in Campbelltown rather than Parramatta and Sydney – the only two options available at the moment.
Allowing the courts to set up shop in the council building on the corner of Queen Street and Broughton Street made sense, Cr Lake said.
Cr Lake also said renovations, similar to those that occurred in Sydney’s Downing Centre would also need to occur. Though he also said there was vacant council land next to the court, which could also be used.
“We could lease land adjacent to the court or we could get rid of it all and let the court house expand,” he said.
“The (council) building has been there for a number of years and the area needs a revamp.
“We should relocate to the western side of the rail way line and lease out the (current) premises.
“If we were successful in getting Google to move out here, we should be located in the same area. Council wants to be a smart city so what better place to be than next to Google.
“We need to get all the MPs in the Macarthur region to come on board.”
Cr Lake will raise a motion at next week’s council meeting asking the council to write to the relevant ministers about expanding the court’s footprint onto council-owned land.
He also stressed any new council site would have to include community facilities so Campbelltonians didn’t lose out in terms of space.
Campbelltown barrister Peter Doyle said he was not sure whether the space and design of the council building would be appropriate for courts. Though he was adamant Campbelltown “definitely needed more courts”.
“Campbelltown courts are pretty full these days and with the population (growth predicted), it doesn’t take a genius to know the courts won’t cope,” he said.
“We have to do something before people move out here.”
Mr Doyle said if a federal circuit court (family court) and state civil court would mean locals wouldn’t have to travel to Parramatta of Sydney to have their cases heard.
A federal court that could preside over bankruptcy cases would also be handy.
https://www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/story/5371014/ball-in-campbelltown-councils-court/?cs=1437
Great idea!