New Local Court sitting arrangements for Bankstown, Hornsby, Manly and Burwood to commence on and from 1 February 2021

22/09/2020

The Chief Magistrate has written to advise the Association and its members of new sitting arrangements for Bankstown, Hornsby, Manly and Burwood Local Courts to commence on and from 1 February 2021.

The Chief Magistrate has advised that after consideration of all feedback provided and reviewing the current considerable workloads at Burwood, Hornsby, Bankstown and Manly Courts, it has been concluded that the workloads at these courts would be better facilitated by:

1. Redirecting all charges and associated Apprehended Violence proceedings from Ryde Police Area Command to Hornsby Local Court; and

2. Redirecting all charges and associated Apprehended Violence proceedings from Campsie Police Area Command to Bankstown Local Court.

This will require the movement of resources within the metropolitan area to sit 2.5 magistrates at Bankstown and 3 magistrates across Manly and Hornsby Local Courts. This arrangement can only be achieved within current resources at the expense of sittings at the Downing Centre Local Court. This reallocation of resources increases the capacity of Hornsby Local Court for defended hearings and domestic violence applications.

The Chief Magistrate has also advised that in reducing the current workload at Burwood the splitting of Apprehended Violence List at Burwood will not be necessary at this time. In addition to reduce impacts of resources such as interpreters Bankstown Apprehended Violence List will be moved to a Wednesday.

The attached document sets out the new sitting arrangements for Bankstown, Hornsby, Manly and Burwood to commence on and from 1 February 2021.