Parking nightmare as Redcliffe Hospital closes 200 spaces during four-storey carpark construction

Finding a parking space at one of southeast Queensland’s busiest hospitals will get a lot harder from next month with 200 car parks being closed to make way for a new multistorey carpark.

Parking has long been an issue at Redcliffe Hospital.

CONSTRUCTION of the new multistorey carpark at Redcliffe Hospital is due to start in August — but until it is open in about 12 months finding a car park will get a lot more difficult.

The State Government announced its plans to fund the much needed carpark in 2017, saying it would be open by the end of 2019.

A Queensland Health spokesman said it was now expected to open by the “second half of 2020”.

The State Government set aside $23.7 million in the 2018/19 State Budget for the four-storey car park.

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The spokesman said construction was expected to start in August, but a contractor was yet to be announced.

“During construction, part of the hospital’s public car park will be a construction site with the

temporary closure of around 200 car spaces,” the spokesman said.

“There will still be free parking available on the hospital campus for patients and visitors, but those coming to the hospital for appointments or to visit may need to allow extra time to find carparking.”

HOSPITAL CARPARK CONSTRUCTION DELAYED

Previous studies by Metro North Health Services, found the hospital carpark was 100 per cent full by 9am, with spaces not freeing up until after 3pm.

The spokesman said to free up more spaces for patients and visitors staff would be encouraged to park in the temporary off site carpark at the Redcliffe Showground. Or to park at the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club, for a gold coin donation.

Patient Wendy Callaghan, Minister for Health Cameron Dick and state Labor MP for Redcliffe Yvette D'Ath at Redcliffe Hospital in 2017.

“We are encouraging hospital day shift staff to park a short distance away from the hospital in these temporary car parks to help take pressure off the hospital’s public car park. This will make it easier and fairer for our patients and visitors to find parking closest to the hospital during construction of the multistorey car park,” he said.

When the new carpark is complete there is expected to be about 1,100 car parks available to patients, visitors and staff — an increase of 50 per cent.

Parking at the new complex is expected to cost up to $15 a day.

At one of the consultation sessions in 2018 a Metro North Health Services spokesman said the carpark would not be operated by a private company.

The hospital will hold a community information sessions and forum about the project on August 27 at 5.30pm in the hospital’s Education Centre.

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