A site opposite Redland Hospital could prove the answer for an ongoing car park battle

A property group with a $1.25 billion asset portfolio says it can deliver a much-needed new car park for a southeast Queensland hospital at a fraction of the price being quoted by politicians.

Cleveland Business Park, at the corner of Weippin and Wellington streets, is strategically located opposite Redland Hospital – proving an ideal location for a new single-storey car park.

A national property group with a $1.25 billion asset portfolio is prepared to come to the rescue of the stalled Redland Hospital car park project.

Sentinel Property Group, which owns Cleveland Business Park, has developed plans for a car park on its Weippin St site opposite Redland Hospital.

The group says it can finish the project for just $7.2 million – much lower than the $15 million touted by Federal MP Andrew Laming, or the State Government’s $36 million proposal, both for a multi-storey car park on the hospital grounds.

Sentinel’s business park sits on a 97,820sq m site, but only about 24 per cent of the land is occupied, providing a home for the Fisher & Paykel office/warehouse and Queensland Health offices.

The Sentinal site opposite the hospital could provide a simple solution to the ongoing car park issue at Redland Hospital. Photo: Paula Shearer.

Managing director Warren Ebert said it had been in discussion with Redland City Council to create a single-level car park with a Weippin St entry.

“The plans are currently for a car park with 331 spaces, but this could easily be expanded to up to 500 spaces,” Mr Ebert said.

“The car park could be constructed for a fraction of the $36 million estimated by Queensland Health for the multi-story car park at the hospital.

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“We believe it could be developed for less than 20 per cent of the suggested cost, directly across the road.

“Sentinel is prepared to develop the car park and provide the funding if that would assist in solving the parking problem.

“Our proposed car park is shovel-ready and could be delivered by Christmas this year. We are prepared to work with all levels of government to resolve the hospital’s parking crisis and can make it happen quickly and in a cost-effective way.”

Drivers are forced to park in makeshift spots on the footpath. Photo: Paula Shearer.

Mr Ebert said the current parking situation in the health precinct had been seriously inadequate for a long time and subject to numerous studies.

“While the problems are very clear, there are genuine land constraints for the Redlands public and Mater Private hospitals,” he said.

“We can solve this for them today.

“There are cars parked illegally along Weippin St, in the hospital grounds and even on our site.

“Additionally, there are genuine safety issues for nightshift workers with some vehicles having to be parked a long way from the hospitals in poorly lit areas surrounded by bushland.

“Our tenants advise that it can be extremely difficult at times to find parking.”

Cars line Weippin St, forcing some night shift staff to walk long distances in poorly lit areas surrounded by bushland. Photo: Paula Shearer.

Mr Ebert said Sentinel’s solution to the parking issue would not have any negative impacts on hospital activities as no demolition was required and it would be a clear work site, not interrupted by constant movements of hospital-related vehicles.

“Construction would not require any change to traffic patterns or movements in and out of the hospital or along Weippin St,” he said.

“As our site is directly opposite the hospital, we would use the existing pedestrian crossing or potentially relocate the crossing if necessary.”

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Established in 2010, Brisbane-based Sentinel Property Group has a total national portfolio of more than 45 retail, industrial, office, land, tourism infrastructure and agribusiness assets in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.