MELBOURNE CBD LEGAL PRECINCT A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

MELBOURNE CBD LEGAL PRECINCT – A VISION FOR THE FUTURE 04

Court Services acknowledges the This report may also be downloaded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from the Court Services Vic toria website as the Traditional Custodians of the land. www.courts.vic.gov.au Court Services Victoria also acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present. Enquires Court Services Victoria This report is protected by copyright. Apart 223 William Street from any use permitted under the Copyright Act Melbourne Victoria 3000 1968 (Cth), all rights are reserved. Email: [email protected]

© Court Services Victoria

Published by Court Services Victoria Design: Andrew Hogg Design November 2016

Cover image: Supreme Court of Victoria Image above: Coroners Court of Victoria MELBOURNE CBD LEGAL PRECINCT A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

MELBOURNE’S LEGAL PRECINCT Melbourne is the home of The Melbourne CBD Legal Precinct of documents. Police officers come to give great precincts including the (the Precinct) is another unique part of evidence. TV reporters stand in front of our city (see map page 05). bright lights. Protestors come to be heard. burgeoning Parkville health Throughout the day, emotions are visible and biomedical precinct and The focal point is the intersection of on the pavements of the Precinct: William Street and Lonsdale Street, the rapidly evolving Monash anxiety, anger, hope, celebration, remorse, whose four corners are occupied by the defiance, sadness, love. It is a theatre of Science Technology Research Supreme Court of Victoria, the County human emotion. and Innovation Precinct Court of Victoria, the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria and the William Cooper Justice The Precinct is a driver of the Melbourne (STRIP), along with the Centre1, with VCAT a more distant one economy. It houses over 13,000 direct renowned Sports, Arts and kilometre away. The surrounding streets legal services jobs and an estimated Entertainment precincts and are home to the Children’s Court, the 14,700 indirect jobs2. The overall economic Commonwealth Law Courts, universities value that the legal services sector brings cultural precincts such as and the offices of numerous legal to the state is acknowledged as making a Chinatown, Little Saigon and practices. At its margins are two historic significant and important contribution to the Greek Precinct. These are public amenities: Flagstaff Gardens – the Victorian economy. iconic and economically Melbourne’s oldest park – and the Former Royal Mint site. Above all, the Precinct is the visible vibrant hubs of state, national embodiment of the rule of law. and international significance. The Precinct is a critical hub of the Victorian court system representing more than half of Court Services Victoria’s (CSV) The Melbourne CBD Legal overall asset base and a significant Precinct is another unique portion of our real estate value. 1 William Cooper (c.1860-1941) was an Australian Aboriginal community leader and indigenous rights part of our city. Every day, the streets fill with those campaigner. The William Cooper Justice Centre is the location of the Judicial College of Victoria, hearing appearing in court – whether as a witness, rooms for the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, headquarters of the Magistrates’ Court a defendant or a party in a civil case. Often of Victoria and Court Services Victoria. they come with their families. Barristers 2 Census of Land Use and walk the pavements in wigs and gowns. Employment 2012 Solicitors and legal clerks wheel trolleys

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Supreme Court of Victoria

THE CONTEXT THE CHALLENGE

The City of Melbourne is growing rapidly. As the population of Victoria increases, There are currently 850,000 people on so too will the demand for court capacity. average each day in the city, with that However, the Precinct is a physically forecast to rise to 1,000,000 within a limited space that is increasingly decade. The number of city centre attractive for private sector development residents is expected to rise from 115,000 as the CBD consolidates westward. to 180,000 in the same period. Where the If CSV does not plan now to cope with city footprint has previously moved south current and future needs and demands, into Southbank and south-west into the opportunity will be lost. Docklands, it is now moving north and west, putting the Precinct in its At the same time, Victorian courts have geographical centre. not kept pace with today’s design, technology and security requirements. The Precinct is also transforming. New Buildings and systems are inflexible and cafes and restaurants are opening. outmoded and court jurisdictions are Flagstaff station is set to open on hampered in their ability to lead the level weekends. And between the institutional of transformation considered necessary buildings and legal offices, numerous high to support ongoing improvements in rise residential apartment blocks are service delivery. springing up. As part of our broader statewide plan, This mirrors the development of CSV. a comprehensive and visionary strategy Established in July 2014 to be independent for CSV’s CBD assets is now needed. of government, it has a clear, expert and focused concern on strategy, innovation, renewal and in meeting the needs of our community. The model has generated interest from across Australia and overseas: the eyes of the legal profession are on Victoria.

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Above: County Court of Victoria Right: Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and the William Cooper Justice Centre

THE OPPORTUNITY

Strategic investment and creative The Supreme Court has been the Maintaining Victoria as the major innovation could transform the Precinct centrepiece of the Victorian legal system events capital of Australia into a single, cohesive international centre for 130 years. It is the architectural jewel Melbourne would become a strong of legal excellence. in the Precinct, but the historic complex draw card for legal conventions and needs a radical rethink if it is to be able to conferences and CSV is already in We want to harness the momentum of meet today’s service delivery requirements, ongoing change and build a strong identity discussion with the Law Institute of changing public expectations and security Victoria exploring creative possibilities. for the Precinct. In doing so, we are needs. maintaining a clear and unambiguous Getting on with it: focus on State Government priorities, And whilst the court buildings are already creating jobs, driving growth the needs of the Victorian community and physically close to one another, the needs and priorities of courts and connecting them both physically, If developed as we hope, aspiring lawyers court users. operationally and metaphorically would from across Australia will want to work allow a greater feeling of collaboration and live in the Precinct. Our Universities Infrastructure that meets between the courts while promoting a will attract the best students and retain Victoria’s needs stronger and more cohesive judicial the best lawyers. This will benefit Victoria The volume of cases coming to courts has system. This would further enhance the and realise our aspiration to develop increased in line with the Victorian public perception of justice. Melbourne as an international centre for population. It is vital that the capacity of arbitration and mediation. the Precinct, which has clear physical Working with local government constraints, is used optimally. This means Working together with Precinct partners getting the best use from existing and Melbourne City Council, CSV is buildings; developing buildings where leading and promoting plans that are possible, and ensuring adequate physical focused on imaginative and eye-catching and technological capability. developments including lighting, streetscape and creative ideas in order to improve overall amenity and public navigation of the Precinct and contribute to the activation of the city.

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Pedestrian scramble at Hachikō Square in Shibuya, Tokyo (image courtesy Wikipedia)

THE PLAN CONCLUSION

The particular needs of the Precinct are > Develop a dynamic and rejuvenated We have a unique opportunity right now at the heart of CSV’s CBD Major Assets Precinct as a critical hub in our to build on a gathering momentum to Strategy. This strategy is being prepared state-wide plan that fosters and transform the Precinct into a working for consideration by the Attorney General grows the collegiality, cooperation and and living community that will play its and the State Government. collaboration between court jurisdictions part in the expansion of the CBD to the and across the justice system. north and west.

> Develop a state of the art solution for CSV will work in partnership with the the next generation Supreme Court of State Government to ensure that the Victoria and ensure clear, cohesive and Precinct is a sustainable, iconic and sustainable strategies for each of our economically prosperous hub, at the court jurisdictions for safe and secure, heart of judicial excellence in Victoria. future proofed and flexible environments.

> Demonstrate international leadership with technologically advanced systems that transform communications, access to justice, efficiency, effectiveness and performance capabilities.

> Ensure innovative service models that support civil, criminal, specialist need and commercial opportunities, including promoting Melbourne as an international centre for commercial arbitration and mediation.

> Contribute to a thriving economic community.

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19

La Trobe Street

9 12 18 16 10 14a

7 14b 5 6 4

Lonsdale Street

King Street 8 William Street Queen Street 11 15 2

1 17 3

Bourke Street 13

1 Supreme Court Victoria (SCV) 14 Victoria University, College of Law & Justice Law Courts 15 Monash University, Law Chambers 2 SCV Court of Appeal 3 SCV Old High Court 16 The Former Royal Mint site 4 SCV 436 Lonsdale Street 17 Telstra Exchange 5 County Court Victoria LEGEND 6 Magistrates’ Court Victoria 18 Flagstaff Station 7 Children’s Court Victoria 19 Flagstaff Gardens KEY TO MAP 8 William Cooper Justice Centre Barristers Chambers 9 Commonwealth Law Courts 10 Civic Compliance Victoria Legal Firms 11 Office of Public Prosecutions 12 Australian Federal Police 13 Law Institute of Victoria Outside Precinct: VCAT 55 King St, Melbourne Coroners Court Victoria and Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank Law Foundation Victoria 5/43 Hardware Ln, Melbourne 18

For further information visit www.courts.vic.gov.au

COURT SERVICES VICTORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK