Oamaru District Court sittings scheduled for two days next week will now not proceed and Balclutha's two days later in the month have been transferred to the Gore courthouse.
That follows closures of both courthouses on Wednesday after a report said they were at risk from earthquakes. Both will remain closed until strengthening work is done.
Ministry of Justice court staff in both centres and Dunedin have been working on what to do with court sittings scheduled this month.
Dunedin criminal case flow manager Vance Kapene said yesterday the Oamaru court sittings set down for Wednesday and Thursday would not proceed.
For criminal matters set down for Oamaru on Wednesday, defendants remanded in custody would be advised of a new date in Dunedin and those on bail or at large would be heard in the Timaru District Court on December 22 at 9.30am.
For matters set down for Oamaru on Thursday, Youth Court matters would be advised of new dates and matters set down for a fixture were vacated and a nominal date would be advised.
After that, the next court date in Oamaru was Wednesday, December 21. Those matters would be heard in the Timaru District Court on the same date.
Balclutha was scheduled to have two days of court before the end of the year, on Monday and Tuesday, December 12 and 13. They would proceed, but at the Gore courthouse.
Mr Kapene said the ministry was still working on court hearings set down in Oamaru and Balclutha for early next year, including alternative venues in the two towns.
"Our initial emphasis was on making decisions for the remainder of this year," he said.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean and the Otago District Law Society, along with other groups associated with the Oamaru court, are also looking for alternative venues to retain court sittings in the town.
The council will discuss the issue informally on Tuesday.
The ministry told the council late on Wednesday that until strengthening work on the Oamaru courthouse was completed or an alternative venue found, Waitaki residents would have to access court facilities in Timaru.
Council chief executive Michael Ross said Tuesday's discussion was likely to focus on a range of possible responses, which could include creating a working party in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, local legal representatives, Mrs Dean and other stakeholders.
"While we understand the ministry's reasons for temporarily closing the Oamaru courthouse, we are conscious of the importance of accessing court services locally. Next Tuesday will provide an opportunity to talk through possible interim solutions and options," he said.
