Image: Court Services Victoria
Court Services Victoria is in the process of delivering a state-of-the-art court facility, catering to the rapidly developing western region of Melbourne.
Dubbed Wyndham Law Courts, the facility stands as the most extensive judicial complex outside the Central Business District. It consolidates various jurisdictions, specialist courts, and amenities to support the rapidly growing Wyndham area. The courts’ bespoke structure boasts 13 courtrooms, four hearing rooms, 26 holding cells, and three mediation suites that offer services to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, the Children’s Court of Victoria, and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
This new courthouse is currently under construction adjacent to the new Werribee Police Station. When complete, it will provide a diverse range of healing programs, including culturally sensitive services for the Koori community, and a Specialist Family Violence Court that accounts for the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
It will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system, bolster the support services, and provide more comprehensive responses by providing dedicated workspaces for community legal aid and wraparound services. Moreover, the facility aims to create opportunities for collaboration and partnership with local and regional agencies in Wyndham and the western region through a Local Advisory Committee. The court aims to enhance the safety and experience of court users by adopting a more person-centred approach.
The court’s design is by Lyons Architects, while the construction work is by Lendlease. The plan prioritizes user experience, safety, sustainability, and technological capability.
Community and legal stakeholders are actively contributing to various aspects of the new courthouse’s planning and development.
The 2020-21 state budget set aside a considerable sum of $271.13m for the future Wyndham Law Courts. The Court Services Victoria oversees the project, while Turner and Townsend operate as Project Managers and Slattery as quantity Surveyors.
Construction of this mammoth court complex is set to finish in late 2024, with doors set to open in early 2025. The current Werribee Court will continue operating during the entire construction period.
