A plan for a South Morang justice hub, with county and magistrates courts and a police station, could be financed by mum-and-dad investors.
Advocates including local police and the City of Whittlesea said the multi-milliondollar justice precinct could be financed under a scheme similar to tolls for privately built roads if superannuation and other investment funds form a partnership with the state government.
Investors, through superannuation funds and other schemes, would get guaranteed, long-term rent returns while government departments would get new facilities without dipping into taxpayer-funded coffers, they said.
Inspector Bob Dykstra said the investment funds had billions of dollars to invest in property as well as shares, and the South Morang plan was a “very large project”.
He said that in addition to a court and police complex able to meet the growing needs of the expanding northern suburbs, the precinct could include such government departments as VicRoads or youth offender support services.
He said the nearest magistrates courts at Heidelberg and Broadmeadows were at capacity, and a new South Morang court would help alleviate the pressure.
The proposed South Morang police complex would include holding cells similar to those next to nearby courts, he said.
Whittlesea council’s manager of advocacy and communications, Griff Davis, said it was time for the state government to think of different funding options.
“There are already such examples, including public-private partnership arrangements that involve the capital works component being funded by private industry and then leased back to the state government, who covers the operational costs.
“In addition, infrastructure bonds are currently being considered by the commonwealth government and could become an alternative source of funding for state government in the future.” Mr Davis said a 15-hectare vacant site next to the council offices in Ferres Boulevard, South Morang, was ideal for the proposed justice precinct.
