Children's court opens

Woy Woy Children's Court is now operational, with construction of the new facilities completed in December.

Both children's care and criminal matters will be heard as well as adult matters, according to Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews.

She said the project accommodated Children's Registrars and fenced external play areas for children.

Construction of the conversion began in January last year.

Ms Andrews said the upgrade of Woy Woy Courthouse included specialist services and conferencing and interviewing facilities to enable both care and criminal matters to be heard.

She said it had facilities to accommodate specialist children's magistrates and had disabled access extended to include staff and magistrates.

The building had a "domestic violence room" with toilet facilities and facilities for mothers, she said.

Ms Andrews said external areas had been fenced with two discreet paved play areas for children.

It had a new secure van dock, detainee interview rooms and six holding rooms, she said.

Newsletter, Alison Branley, January 20