The A$150 million Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Law Courts project has achieved financial close, with proponent Juris Partnership’s finances now in place and set to move into the construction phase of the project.

The Juris Partnership consortium is made up Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction Pty Ltd, Macquarie Capital Group Limited, Programmed Facility Management Pty Ltd and Lyons architects.

The Law Courts project is being undertaken as a Public Private Partnership (PPP), the first of its kind in the ACT, and will see Juris responsible for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of the courts precinct for the next 25 years.

The new ACT Law Courts, which will meet the territory’s needs for the next 50 years in a more functional, flexible and sustainable way, also received works approval from the National Capital Authority last week.

Once completed, the new law courts will accommodate the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Magistrates Court and Childrens Court with a four story new link building fronting Vernon Circle and joining the existing Magistrates and refurbished Supreme Court buildings.

Attorney-General Simon Corbell stated:

“The ACT Government is pleased to see the project’s proponent Juris Partnership moving ahead and meeting these significant milestones. By achieving financial close today, Juris has made a big step toward the start of construction in the first half of next year.” 

“To promote best practice facilities for witnesses and their families, the new ACT Law Courts will also include new dedicated spaces for community service and domestic violence support agencies.” 

“There will be an area devoted to accommodate Legal Aid, Domestic Violence Crisis Service and other support services designed into the facility, which will have office space, interview rooms and waiting areas for the family and support network of clients of these services.

“A dedicated zone for witnesses and victims has also been included in the new courts facility’s design. The zone will have a discrete separate entrance, several remote witness rooms and amenities and dedicated waiting spaces for the family and support network of victims and witnesses.”

Other courts projects around the country, like the Perth CBD Courts and the County Court of Victoria have been delivered successfully through PPPs.