Crane a cause for optimism

CITY Of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann has likened an imposing crane that’s popped up at the new law courts site in Hargreaves Street to a symbol of hope, and asked for patience while various major building works cause disruptions in the city centre.

“The law courts and GovHub, together with the nearly complete Bendigo TAFE expansion, represent an investment of more than $300 million by the Victorian Government in the future of our city,” Mr Niemann said.

“As we live with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, work continuing on these sites provides a shot of optimism for our community, creating hundreds of jobs during construction, then ongoing jobs in the new buildings as well as more jobs in our local economy to service the additional activity.”

Mr Niemann advised that motorists and pedestrians should expect changes in traffic conditions at the northern end of the city centre while the projects progress.

“It will be a matter of temporary growing pains while this new wave of development takes place and delivers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalise our city centre,” he said.

Court Services Victoria recently appointed Kane Nicholson Joint Venture to deliver the Bendigo Law Court Development main works, with building foundations and the basement largely already in place.

The facility will be set over five levels and feature eight courtrooms, two hearing rooms, two mediation suites and 16 holding cells.

The courts will also be the first in Victoria to feature a full suite of specialist courts – for family violence, Koori, mental health assessment and referral, and drug matters – all in one location.