Residents fear the introduction of paid parking at Redcliffe Hospital will increase on street parking issues

Crazy parking antics around this busy hospital have caused the council’s parking infringement notices to be four times higher this year than the past year – but residents fear it is about to get much worse. SEE THE PHOTOS

Shane Christall took this photo of a car parked across a driveway in a street near the Redcliffe Hospital.

A new multistorey carpark at Redcliffe Hospital is being built in a bid to improve parking issues but residents fear high fees could force even more people to park in the already congested surrounding streets.

Construction of the new $23.7 million carpark, which is expected to help create more than 1000 parking spaces, started in August last year.

The project is proposed to improve parking at and around the hospital.

It followed a study which found the carpark and surrounding streets were full by 9am each day.

Parking at the hospital is currently free.

Shane Christall took this photo of a car parked across a driveway in a street near the Redcliffe Hospital.

News the carpark was nearing completion and that a fee structure was yet to be determined left residents who live in the streets surrounding the hospital frustrated.

A Moreton Bay Regional Council spokesman said the council had received 127 complaints in the past 12 months in relation to cars allegedly parked illegally in streets surrounding the hospital.

Well up on the 67 complaints council received between July 1 2018 and May 27, 2019.

“Council issued 126 infringements and 15 warning tickets to vehicles parked unlawfully in streets nearby the Redcliffe Hospital precinct during the period of 1 July 2019 to 27 May 2020, compared to 31 infringements and 18 warning tickets in the year prior,” the spokesman said.

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Shane Christall took this photo – highlighting how hard it can be to get out his driveway to due the number of people parking in streets surrounding the hospital.

He said the infringements related to people parking in no stopping zones, across driveways, obstructing footpaths or on continuous yellow lines.

“Moreton Bay Regional Council is aware of parking issues in the streets surrounding Redcliffe Hospital and is currently reviewing options to assist residents concerned with the safety of pedestrians and motorists travelling through the area,” the spokesman said.

He did not confirm if one of those options would be more no parking zones or timed parking for on-street parking.

Shane Christall snapped this photo of cars parked in a street surrounding Redcliffe Hospital.

Cherie Porter, who lives in a street surrounding the hospital, wrote on the Herald Facebook page, that the new multistorey carpark would not fix the on-street parking issues.

“I live in one of these seriously congested streets and often have people parking across my driveway all day,” she wrote.

“Who in their right mind will pay when you can park in a side street for free. Some people just don’t think.”

Shane Christall said they often had to put their bins on the road on pick-up day.

“If they’re on the nature strip (people) just park in front of them before they’ve been emptied,” he said.

Cars along Livermore Street near the Redcliffe Hospital. Picture: Renae Droop

Mr Christall also said the situation made it dangerous to get in and out his driveway.

Rachael A’brook said: “No one will park there if it costs money. More people will park on the streets”.

Coral Stevenson said the new carpark should be free to use.

“The car park is going to be too expensive for most people so it is only going to add more congestion with cars parking in side streets,” she wrote.

Vivian Bennett said the council should put meters in around the surrounding streets.