Law firm Maurice Blackburn has criticised delays of more than a month in its class action for victims of the Kilmore East Black Saturday bushfire because of delays building a new courtroom for the case.

“Our clients have been waiting for their day in court for nearly four years, despite the trial date being fixed over a year ago in a proceeding to which the state itself is a party,” Senior Associate Rory Walsh told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“We are now told our clients will have to wait a further five weeks until March 4 – we are disappointed this has been allowed to occur.”

In August presiding judge Justice Jack Forrest raised concerns that no current Victorian courtroom is big enough to stage the class action, which features thousands of litigants.

There will be more than 20 barristers, many more solicitors and hundreds of witnesses.

Attorney-General Robert Clark committed the State Government to building a new courtroom at the William Cooper Justice Centre in the Melbourne CBD.

But Justice Forrest says the work will not be completed for the January 29 start date and he has adjourned the case until March 4.

Mr Walsh says Maurice Blackburn will put the delay to good use. “We’ll continue with our preparations and we will be more than ready for trial on March 4 as we seek to get victims of this terrible fire some compensation for their losses.”

The class action, against power distributor SP AusNet, is expected to last six months.