​Construction of the $91.5 million Forensic Medicine and Coroner’s Court is on track, with a Topping Out ceremony today marking the 21st Century complex reaching its highest point.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Attorney General Mark Speakman attended the ceremony at the Lidcombe site to mark the major milestone for the world-class facility.

Mr Hazzard said the complex is on track to open in 2019 and will deliver additional coronial services, courtrooms and vastly improved technology.

“This amazing new complex has been built with dignity, compassion and privacy in mind and, by using the latest forensic medicine technology, will ensure grieving families get timely answers,” Mr Hazzard said.

Mr Speakman said the development of forensic medicine services should take into account that human tragedy is behind every case investigated at the facility.

“With every sudden unexplaine​d or unexpected death, there are families grieving and in need of support and answers,” Mr Speakman said.

“The building will also feature spacious support facilities, with more counselling rooms and private waiting areas, to provide a more comfortable environment for families during a very difficult time.”

The new complex, located at the former Lidcombe Hospital site, is much larger than the State Coroner’s Court and NSW Health Pathology Forensic Medicine facility in Glebe.

Key features will include:

• large courtrooms capable of hosting lengthy, complex and high-profile inquests
• AV technology to enable witnesses to give evidence from remote locations
• additional and improved technology to help provide answers about the cause of death in the least invasive manner
• an area for smoking ceremonies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• a multi-faith room
• additional viewing and counselling rooms and family waiting areas.

The development is a partnership between NSW Health and NSW Justice, with Health Infrastructure taking the lead in delivery of the facility. See a flythrough