Debrah Novak calls for more parking for Grafton Hospital staff

A councillor says parking problems for Grafton Base Hospital staff need to be given urgent priority after a lull in action on the issue.

A Clarence Valley councillor is calling for a solution to parking problems for Grafton Base Hospital staff.

Clarence Valley councillor Debrah Novak says a solution must be found immediately to stop Grafton Base Hospital staff copping parking fines while they are at work.

A petition was launched in September to bring attention to hospital staff who, after failing to find a safe, untimed parking spot, had been issued with parking fines.

Staff told The Daily Examiner that parking further away from the hospital posed safety issues for those leaving the grounds at night.

Shortly after the petition was launched, Clarence Valley Council staff sat down with hospital management to work out a solution.

However, Ms Novak said little had been done since then.

“The matter continues to escalate with staff still getting fined, so I want to see this problem get resolved as a matter of critical urgency,” she said.

A Grafton Base Hospital enrolled nurse received this $117 parking fine.

Ms Novak said the parking issue stemmed from the afternoon changeover period.

“The problem is happening during the afternoon shift change where afternoon and morning staff overlap for an hour and there aren’t enough suitable parking spaces to go around,” she said.

“I’m calling on Clarence Valley Council general manager to do something for hospital staff and work alongside State Member Chris Gulaptis to resolve this.”

Council director of environment and planning, Adam Cameron, said after talks with hospital management in late September the plan was to go away and investigate opportunities for additional parking around the hospital.

“Some complaints they have received is that people have not been able to visit the hospital due to no available parking in the two-hour zone,” he said.

“Management are looking at opportunities to resolve this problem, but also to improve parking on site for staff as well.”

However, with parking fines continuing, Ms Novak said something needed to be implemented in the meantime.

“The most logical approach to this situation is to put a temporary measure in place for those protecting our lives on the frontline,” she said.

“Perhaps the parking rangers could stay away during that changeover period.”