Courthouse refit due in September

Levin’s courthouse has yet another reopening date, with the coronavirus lockdown holding up repairs on the earthquake-prone building.

But the closure comes with a bright side, giving builders a chance to do other upgrades.

The building, opened in 2010, was suddenly closed in November after engineers found the first floor could collapse in a medium-strength quake.

The Ministry of Justice leased Bateman Chambers across from the courthouse to manage registrar appearances, but defendants have had to travel to Palmerston North or Porirua to be seen by a judge.

Lawyers, police and members of the judiciary were told at a meeting in November that the work would be done by the end of February.

However, that date came and went without the court reopening.

Meanwhile, lawyers who regularly appeared in Levin have repeatedly told Stuff they did not know when the courthouse would open.

Some have taken to checking in on the building to see if any work was actually being done.

The ministry’s property general manager, Fraser Gibbs, said work was under way but had been delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown. The site was shut down from March 23 until May 8, but the contractor had given September as a reopening date.

The closure was being used as an opportunity to upgrade the courthouse, despite it being one of the newest in the country.

Audiovisual equipment was being installed, the public counter would be brought up to current security standards, and the building’s facade would be upgraded, Gibbs said.

The Bateman Chambers lease would run until December no matter when the courthouse reopened.

Gibbs said the local legal profession was being kept in the loop. ‘‘Staff and other court users are understanding about the delays, but of course everyone is looking forward to returning to the Levin courthouse again.’’