Adelaide City Councillor backs plan to reverse timed-parks trial in North Adelaide to help nurses
Hundreds of North Adelaide car parks would have their time limits dropped or extended, to help nurses forced to walk long distances at night, under a councillor’s plan.
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Parking restrictions in North Adelaide are set to be relaxed under an Adelaide City councillor’s plan that would help improve nurse safety.
Cr Mary Couros will ask the council to reinstate at least 340 unrestricted and 10-hour parking bays near the parklands.
She will also ask council to look at each street with the new restrictions, consult the community and see if even more changes can be reversed.
However, the peak body for nurses and midwives, as well as the head of a nurse safety group, want all the restrictions reversed.
“It would alleviate stress for all the hospitals and for all the schools,” Cr Couros said.
“This will give the balance back to North Adelaide, take away the angst and the stress so then we can move on.”
The council started a year-long trial in July that saw about 1000 unrestricted and 10-hour parking spaces around three hospitals converted to two, three and four-hour timed parks.
It aimed to free up spaces for residents and visitors but has drawn criticism from nurses forced to walk long distances at night or leave patients to move their cars.
Under Cr Couros’ plan, the end of the trial would be fast-tracked and it is likely the council’s overall findings would become permanent.
It sparked a backlash from nurses, who raised safety concerns about having to walk longer distances to their cars at night.
“It was very clear this trial was not working,” Cr Couros said.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA branch chief executive Elizabeth Dabars welcomed Cr Couros’ plan, but wanted all the restrictions reversed.
She also suggested nurses get permits near hospitals to ensure they can secure a park.
“We are pleased that the Adelaide City Council has listened to nurses and midwives and heeded calls to reconsider parking control changes,” Ms Debars said.
“While welcoming the announced adjustment, our preferred approach is that the council reverse all changes while work occurs on suitable and sustainable solutions.”
The City Messenger reported earlier this week council staff suggested reverting about 360 parking spaces back to either 10-hour or non-restricted.
That proposal was supposed to be formally put before council in the coming weeks.
Calvary Hospital has started handing out personal safety alarms to staff who need to walk to their cars at night.
The Women’s and Children’s Hospital has also had to call police to help manage traffic chaos caused by staff and patients struggling to find a park.
A Facebook page, Car Parking Crisis North Adelaide, attracted support from 722 people who want the trial overturned to protect hospital workers.
North Adelaide nurse Libby, who did not want to disclose her surname or where she works, said the change was a step in the right direction.
“I believe reversing the trial would be more beneficial to workers across the board.”
The council will vote on Cr Couros’ proposal on Tuesday night.