A community working group is digging into what it will actually take to bring Bellingen’s heritage-listed courthouse back to life, after months of behind-the-scenes talks with the NSW Government about activating the site.
Bellingen Shire Council convened the Bellingen Courthouse Working Group after Expressions of Interest closed in May, with strong community interest shaping the final line-up of the skills-based advisory group.
Council General Manager Mark Griffioen thanked everyone who put their hand up.
“The level of interest demonstrated how strongly people feel about the future of the Courthouse,” he said.
“While we could not appoint everyone who nominated, the applications demonstrated the breadth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that exists within our community.”
The group brings together expertise in heritage architecture, First Nations knowledge, arts and cultural development, regional development, business and community activation. Its members are Dean Thomas Kelly of Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation, Olivia Parker of Arts Mid North Coast, Madeleine Lawler and Dianne Wall of Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast, Frank Perez of the Bellingen Chamber of Commerce, Anthony Kelly of ADG Architects and Hayley Egan of Taranta Arts Inc. Mr Griffioen chairs the group, with Mayor Steve Allan sitting in as Council’s civic representative and Cameron Bragg from the NSW Premier’s Department supporting engagement with the state government, which owns the Courthouse.
Mr Griffioen said the group had deliberately been set up to focus on facts rather than advocate for any particular future use.
“The group’s role is to understand what is realistically possible for the Courthouse and what would be needed to make that happen,” he said.
“We need to understand the condition of the building, the cost and practicalities of restoration, possible funding sources, potential uses and, importantly, how any future operation could be financially sustainable.”
Since it began meeting, the group has worked through the building’s condition, funding and investment pathways, governance and operating models, and comparable heritage buildings that have successfully been brought back into use.
One early win has already come out of the discussions. Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Dean Thomas Kelly offered for YAC Rangers to help clean up the site, and the NSW Government followed through by arranging initial clean-up works around the Courthouse precinct.
Mr Griffioen said it showed the value of having the right people around the table.
“Dean’s offer provided the opportunity to raise the condition of the grounds with the NSW Government again and we were pleased to see the State respond by arranging the initial clean-up,” he said.
“It is a relatively small step compared with the broader challenge of activating the Courthouse, but it has made an immediate difference to the presentation of the site.”
Council and the working group continue to work with NSW Government agencies to explore what could bring the building back into use.
“The NSW Government owns the building, so continued engagement with the State is critical,” Mr Griffioen said.
“The Courthouse is an important heritage building and there is a strong desire to see it activated again. Any future proposal needs to be practical, financially sustainable and capable of delivering a genuine benefit to the community.
“The Working Group is helping us do the groundwork needed to give that the best possible chance of happening.”
Updates on the working group’s progress are available at bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Services/Infrastructure-Projects/Special-Projects/Bellingen-Courthouse-Community-Project.
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