Hospital parking debacle: How did it get to this point?

WE GO back to where it all began, and look at the issues step-by-step.

PAY TO PARK: With the recent introduction of paid parking at Lismore Base Hospital, staff have been protesting and not using the designated spaces. Picture: Cathy Adams

June 2015

Lismore MP Thomas George turned the first sod to mark the start of the Lismore Base Hospital car park project, with building contractor Woollam Constructions appointed.

The $9.27 million car park was to be primarily delivered under the State Treasury-supported Car Parking Portfolio Model, where car parks were self-funded, supported with user charges and managed by a professional car park operator.

October 2015

Lismore City Council called for community feedback on a proposed $3 per hour street parking scheme for Hunter St, parts of Uralba St, and several other roads.

December 2015

A report presented to council recommended parking infrastructure improvements should be funded by paid parking to ensure competing demands for on-street parking were addressed.

Council's manager of development and compliance Peter Jeuken said: "The council report made it clear, and there was an agreed understanding that the hospital administration would manage the parking needs of hospital staff, and that concerns for hospital staff parking expressed by the Health Services Union needed to be resolved between the union and the hospital administration."

March 24, 2016

Dalziell St parking construction was completed and its residents were given paid parking permits which exempted them from time-limited parking zones.

March 31

A ballot was drawn allotting 400 parking permits to the 645 permanent staff who applied. The lucky ones had the privilege of parking at the new multi-storey car park for $12 per week.

The 245 unlucky workers, as well as all casuals and contractors, had to park on the street.

That day, health workers attended a protest at the main entrance of the hospital, in response to plans to charge staff for parking on nearby streets.

Health Services Union members levelled their anger at the council, claiming the on-street parking fees were "opportunistic". The union claimed workers were not safe walking half an hour to claim free car parking.

April 6

Lismore MP Thomas George gave his guarantee that he would support any fast-tracking of the Stage 2 car park.

"Hospital management have just got to say 'We need Stage 2 now', and I am just waiting for word," he said.

May 10

State Health Minister Jillian Skinner visited the hospital and assured readers that the multi-storey car park had provisions for people who were holders of health cards and pensioners.

"People with special needs, such as those with a chronic illness, can apply for an exemption from Local District Health," she said.

June 10

Lismore councillor Greg Bennett introduced a motion at a council meeting to halve the rate the council was planning to charge for parking in the hospital precinct. He received huge support from the vocal presence of health workers, but the motion was not successful.

July 4

The multi-storey car park opened in in Uralba St at the hospital.