The Tasmanian government has bailed on a plan to move courts into a residential area. 

In August 2020, the state government announced a $40 million decision to relocate the Burnie court complex to a residential area; at the former University of Tasmania's Cradle Coast campus on Mooreville Road.

But backlash from the Burnie City Council and the community at large seems to have convinced the government that it would be the wrong site. 

Burnie Mayor Steve Kons said transport and the effect on residents and businesses were among the council's concerns.

“Taking an enterprise which is a large people-generating place out of our CBD was always going to be difficult,” he told the ABC.

“Courts are not just about criminal courts, civil actions, family law issues - there's plenty of other things that the courts do and having it in our CBD is the most appropriate place to have it.”

Premier Peter Gutwein said the government is listening to the community.

“While the Mooreville Road site was identified as a suitable Crown land site for a new court complex following a significant review process,” he said.

“It is clear there may be additional sites in the CBD that could now also be suitable, pending consideration by landowners.”

The old university site had been identified as the best option by the Department of Justice. The government says it will now open an expression of interest process to find a new site in the city centre. 

Law Society of Tasmania president Simon Gates says the plan would not have worked. 

“The Law Society has for some time had concerns about people travelling to and from a court located out of the CBD,” Mr Gates said.

“There could be designated buses for that purpose, but the concern would be you may end up with complainants and defendants and witnesses all having to catch the same bus.

“There's no question that the current Burnie court facility isn't fit for purpose and so the question really now is whether a suitable alternative site can be identified.”

Expressions of interest will be taken for the next three months.