Mega-court contract awarded to Bovis Lend Lease
Published Monday, 30 June, 2008 at 03:01 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Queensland’s new supreme and district court complex is to be built by Bovis Lend Lease with the Bligh Government awarding the managing contract to the company.
Announcing the contract today, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten and Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said the Lend Lease subsidiary was expected to begin site works in October, with construction scheduled to start next March.
The $600 million complex will be built beside the Brisbane Magistrates Court, between George and Roma streets, with completion expected in 2011.
Mr Schwarten said a design competition conducted by the Department of Public Works had resulted in the appointment of the winning architectural team, Architectus Brisbane.
“The new building will be environmentally efficient, with a strong focus on natural light, climate control, water harvesting and recycling, and is expected to deliver the equivalent of a five-star greenhouse rating,” Mr Schwarten said.
“More than 5000 jobs are expected to be generated during construction.”
Mr Shine said the 19-storey building would accommodate up to 47 courtrooms at full capacity, with dedicated wings for civil and criminal trials, supported by separate lifts and pathways for the security of judges, jurors, prisoners, witnesses and members of the public.
“The new complex will transform the capacity of our courts to meet the special needs of children, vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime in a way that just isn’t possible with the current facilities,” he said.
“The additional courtrooms will significantly increase the number of trials that can be run each year, supported by much improved jury facilities, family lounges, a modern registry, judges’ chambers and secure, monitored custodial cells.
“The design includes a state-of-the-art recording suite for vulnerable witnesses to present their evidence by closed-circuit television, as well as digital audio for transcription services and free wireless broadband access to the Internet for lawyers and other court users.
“It also allows sufficient structural capacity to accommodate further technical innovations during the life of the building over the next half-century.”
Media Contact:
Minister Schwarten’s Office: Scott Chandler 3237 1184
Minister Shine’s Office: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273
Announcing the contract today, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten and Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said the Lend Lease subsidiary was expected to begin site works in October, with construction scheduled to start next March.
The $600 million complex will be built beside the Brisbane Magistrates Court, between George and Roma streets, with completion expected in 2011.
Mr Schwarten said a design competition conducted by the Department of Public Works had resulted in the appointment of the winning architectural team, Architectus Brisbane.
“The new building will be environmentally efficient, with a strong focus on natural light, climate control, water harvesting and recycling, and is expected to deliver the equivalent of a five-star greenhouse rating,” Mr Schwarten said.
“More than 5000 jobs are expected to be generated during construction.”
Mr Shine said the 19-storey building would accommodate up to 47 courtrooms at full capacity, with dedicated wings for civil and criminal trials, supported by separate lifts and pathways for the security of judges, jurors, prisoners, witnesses and members of the public.
“The new complex will transform the capacity of our courts to meet the special needs of children, vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime in a way that just isn’t possible with the current facilities,” he said.
“The additional courtrooms will significantly increase the number of trials that can be run each year, supported by much improved jury facilities, family lounges, a modern registry, judges’ chambers and secure, monitored custodial cells.
“The design includes a state-of-the-art recording suite for vulnerable witnesses to present their evidence by closed-circuit television, as well as digital audio for transcription services and free wireless broadband access to the Internet for lawyers and other court users.
“It also allows sufficient structural capacity to accommodate further technical innovations during the life of the building over the next half-century.”
Media Contact:
Minister Schwarten’s Office: Scott Chandler 3237 1184
Minister Shine’s Office: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273