Holden Hill Magistrates Court to close, three other proposed courts to remain open
Cost-cutting measures will see Holden Hill Magistrates Court in Adelaide's north-east close by September this year, while the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court will be spared.
The Courts Administration Authority (CAA) had originally proposed to close four magistrates courts at Port Adelaide, Holden Hill, Mount Barker and Tanunda.
South Australia's Chief Justice Christopher Kourakis confirmed the Port Adelaide court would remain open and the Nunga Court would continue there.
The Mount Barker and Tanunda courts would convert to and operate as circuit courts, with no full-time registries.
Chief Justice Kourakis said the proposal was in response to the CAA's strained budget.
"Budget cuts made since 2009/2010 are now in the order of $9 million," he said.
"Over 80 full-time equivalent staff positions - about 10 per cent of our workforce - have been lost."
He said the CAA had already closed court registries in Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Kadina and Naracoorte, and has closed the Adelaide Sturt Street District Court rooms.
The Supreme Court has been reduced by 1.5 judge positions, the District Court by two judges and one magistrate from the magistrates' courts.
Circuits of all courts have been reduced by 25 per cent.
Chief Justice Kourakis said budgetary restraints and "other considerations" could not allow all of the proposed closures to be reversed.
"I regret that many will be inconvenienced by the closure of the Holden Hill Court," he said.
"Importantly, the resources spared by closing Holden Hill, together with other arrangements, will not only allow the budgetary bottom line to be met but will also allow the authority to reinstate some of the regional circuits which were closed in the 2013/2014 financial year.
"The reduction in circuits has had serious adverse impacts on the administration of justice in those country locations."
The three courts will be funded by savings made on salaries and wages, and revenue raised from leasing out a space at the Port Adelaide courthouse.
The court closure proposal was announced last September and was followed by a consultation period with the public including court user groups, businesses, government employees, the legal community, local government and other justice sector agencies.
Police to close eight small stations across Adelaide
Meanwhile, eight small police stations across Adelaide have also been slated to close.
Police Commissioner Gary Burns told a parliamentary committee the "satellite" stations have 12 officers altogether and see an average of three people a day.
The stations are in Firle, Newton, North Adelaide, Blakeview, Pooraka, Tea Tree Gully, Malvern and Hallett Cove.
Commissioner Burns said the move would save about $500,000 over the next two years.
"We've increased our online services and we know that within four to eight kilometres there are large headquarter stations," he said.
"The benefit for us is that we would have 12 officers back walking a beat or in police vehicles.
"It's much better to prevent a crime than to take a report of crime."
Commissioner Burns said the plan would now be put forward for public consultation with the aim to close the stations at the end of their current lease period within 12 months to two years.
