Progress is being made to keep court services in Oamaru and Balclutha after the courthouses in both towns were closed indefinitely last week.
Community leaders started fighting to retain court services after the Ministry of Justice closed six courthouses - including those in Balclutha and Oamaru - for strengthening work after a report identified them as being at high risk of damage from earthquakes.
It was proposed to transfer Balclutha and Oamaru court services and sittings, including the criminal court, to Gore and Timaru, respectively, for up to a year while the buildings were strengthened, but lawyers and local government in both towns want to keep as many court services in their towns as possible.
Earlier this week, the Waitaki District Council informally appointed Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton and two councillors, Jim Hopkins and Hugh Perkins, to assist the Oamaru legal fraternity, Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean and the Ministry of Justice in trying to retain its court services.
One step has already been taken, with Disputes Tribunal hearings being held at the Oamaru Opera House. The tribunal met on Monday and yesterday and will hold another hearing on December 19.
Good progress is also being made by the ministry in its work with local interests to identify possible sites in Oamaru to house court staff and for other hearings.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said the closure of the Balclutha courthouse highlighted fears it would close for good and hearings held elsewhere in the town would minimise disruptions.
"It's only a building problem - and we have heaps of empty buildings in Clutha that could be used as a temporary courthouse."
He was working with Ministry of Justice staff and local lawyers to help keep court hearings in Balclutha.
Mr Cadogan had approached building owners and provided Land Information Memorandum reports on some vacant buildings in the Balclutha area to the ministry.
