• Pine Rivers Courthouse

Pine Rivers welcomes new $18 million local justice era

Local residents today celebrated the official opening of the Pine Rivers Courthouse with an open day, fairytale trials, guided tours, community displays and a sausage sizzle.

Premier Anna Bligh said the opening marked the start of a new era for local justice with a greater focus on clients and the latest in courtroom technology.

“Pine Rivers now has one of the best courthouses in Queensland,” Ms Bligh said while joining in the family fun day which coincides with her first anniversary as Premier.

“The Court  includes closed-circuit television so vulnerable witnesses can give their evidence from another room without the added trauma of facing offenders in open court.

“Video links also enable evidence to be taken from witnesses in other locations, including those being held in custody around the state.

“There are private waiting rooms for victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable witnesses, and a secure link to the watch-house for the safe transfer of prisoners.”

Ms Bligh said the new precinct was a good example of how the Queensland Government’s $17 billion infrastructure program was making a very real difference where it mattered most – in local communities, supporting local services.

“My government is spending around $2 million an hour – every hour of the day, every day of the year – building and rebuilding vital infrastructure across the state,” she said.

“Quality facilities like this do not come cheaply. The courthouse alone cost $11 million, with a further $7 million for the watch-house.”

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine described the design as visually stunning, highly functional and a far cry from the former Petrie Courthouse it replaced.

“The new courthouse has been built to meet the needs of the future, as well as the present,” Mr Shine said.

“Its floor area is more than twice Petrie’s, with two courts instead of one and provision for a third. There are also twice as many rooms for client interviews and support.

“The new courthouse offers greatly enhanced facilities for victims of crime, witnesses, lawyers, police, corrective services and child safety officers, justices of the peace, local community groups and members of the public.

“It also includes a first-class registry, the magistrates’ chambers, secure prisoner holding cells and two conference rooms.”

Mr Shine said magistrates courts were at the front line of justice administration in Queensland and dealt with approximately 95 percent of all criminal charges.

“Pine Rivers is a thriving suburban community and the demand for justice services is expected to reflect continuing population growth,” he said.

“Last financial year, the former Petrie Courthouse dealt with more than 4,900 criminal charges and 1,100 civil claims, so the magistrate and staff are certainly earning their keep.

“These outstanding facilities will enable them to continue serving the needs of the Pine Rivers community for many years to come.”

Member for Kurwongbah Linda Lavarch said the new building was also more environmentally friendly than the former courthouse at Petrie.

“The most obvious difference is the amount of natural light, which is not only more appealing but reduces reliance on artificial lighting,” Mrs Lavarch said.

“The design also includes motion sensors for lighting control, ultra-efficient air-conditioning and solar hot water, which further reduce electricity consumption.

“The rainwater tank behind the courthouse has a capacity of 23,000 litres and is plumbed into the toilets and landscape irrigation.

“In other words, we have a bigger, better building, but a smaller carbon footprint.”

Ms Lavarch described the locally designed artwork outside the courthouse as subtle, elegant and very much in tune with Pine Rivers’ environmental heritage.

“The stainless steel poles leading to the entrance represent the common ‘Toolim’ sedge that grew here before settlement and the in-ground sculpture ‘Undercurrent’ symbolises the flow of an unnamed creek below the courthouse,” she said.

“Together they connect us with our historical roots when lush, tall reeds grew along the banks of the local waterway.

Both are programmed with decorative lighting, so their visual appeal is even more striking at night.”

Mrs Lavarch said before the courthouse was built, the most notable feature of the site was a large culvert stormwater drain.

“This project has turned a very challenging, unappealing block of land into one of the street’s most attractive landmarks,” she said.

Media contact:  Attorney-General’s Office 3239 6400