Premier’s $120m Townsville University Hospital carpark expansion election promise

Premier Steven Miles government is pledging 600 more carparks for Townsville University Hospital, but the promise has a sizable catch.

Premier Steven Miles, Mundingburra MP Les Walker, Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper, and Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief operating officer Stephen Eaton look at the plans for a multi-storey carpark at the Townsville University Hospital.

Premier Steven Miles has announced a further expansion to parking at Townsville University Hospital will go ahead, if his party is successful in securing re-election in October.

The $120 million election pledge for a multistorey car park and above ground parking is expected to include 600 extra carparking spaces for visitors and staff alike.

The announcement comes on the heels of an earlier $530m expansion that included extra staff parking, 143-overnight beds, and a helipad.

“Today we’re announcing that we will add to that expansion, with a brand new carpark, a $120m dollar commitment to build an extra 600 car parks for patients and for healthcare workers here at the TUH,” Mr Miles said.

“This is the next sage of what we do, our government builds hospitals like this one and we keep investing in them because we really believe healthcare is one of the most important things we do.”

Les Walker MP at the announcement of the $530 million Townsville University Hospital expansion. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mundingburra MP Les Walker said the extra beds meant added demand, and that the ‘last thing’ that should stop someone from visiting the hospital was inadequate parking.

“When you’re receiving important treatment for your health, the last thing you want to worry

about is a car park,” Mr Walker said.

“We promised more beds at this hospital, and we delivered. Now we’ve committed to

upgrade the car park, and if elected on October, we’ll deliver.”

The new parking, if it is built, will be constructed in the Townsville University Hospital’s western campus.

The exact, $119.7m figure that would be used to construct the parks would be ‘funded by borrowings’.

Originally published as Premier’s $120m Townsville University Hospital carpark expansion election promise