Locals outraged over new paid parking at Campbelltown Hospital

Hospital workers and residents in southwest Sydney are outraged after the government introduced paid parking at Campbelltown Hospital despite it being free since 1977.

Local residents are up in arms after the state government introduced paid parking at Campbelltown Hospital despite it being free for decades, forcing workers to fill nearby residential streets.

The NSW Government spent $34.1 million of taxpayers’ money building the new multi-level carpark but then handed it over to a private operator who is charging the same taxpayers to use it.

The parking rates were revealed on March 25 and implemented less than two weeks later on April 6, forcing staff to pay almost $50 a fortnight just to park at their workplace – a first at the hospital since 1977.

However many staff have not been able to access the permits and are on waiting lists of up to 800 people, meaning they are looking at other means to park at work.

Hospital workers in Campbelltown are being forced to fill suburban streets so they don’t have to pay up to $1,000 per year to park at work. Picture: Supplied

A student undergoing a six-week unpaid placement at the hospital in coming weeks said she had to spend time finding out where the closest place to park is so she doesn’t waste $100 per week.

“I’ve had to do a ‘test run’ to the hospital the other morning and I found the closest parking to be out the front of Campbelltown Bunnings and at the Marketfair carpark which is approximately a 15 minute walk,” she told the Macarthur Chronicle.

Her last option was paying $20.20 per day.

“There is absolutely no parking anywhere, most of it is taken up by tradesmen working on the hospital by 7am,” she said.

Someone went so far as to park in a roundabout to avoid paying at the hospital. Picture: Facebook

“Normally I wouldn’t mind paying fees in order to get to work as I’m aware many pay for tolls and train tickets but paying $20.20 a day to park at my place of work while I am partaking in unpaid placement is unaffordable.”

Luckily she has had a family friend allow her to park in her driveway just a ten minute walk away.

Workers at the hospital aren’t the only people affected, with employees at the hospital now opting to park in surrounding suburban streets.

Some people have even gone so far as parking in a roundabout to avoid paying for parking.

Wayno Hindmarsh Diehl told the Macarthur Chronicle he lives in Ambarvale with his house backing onto Thierry Rd at the hospital.

Since paid parking has been introduced he said his “once quiet street” is now a carpark for “workers and visitors”.

“As a result we are woken six days a week to workers parking in the breakdown lane at our back fence,” he said.

Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren has rallied with nurses and hospital workers against the paid parking. Picture: Supplied

“Rubbish is now everywhere in our street and there’s constant noise from 5.45am until 6pm at night.”

The traffic has become so bad that Mr Diehl woke recently to find a car had rolled back too far while parking and had to be helped by another driver.

“A month ago a car came around a bend and ran out of room because of all the parked cars and drove straight through our neighbour’s front garden, narrowly missing our house,” he said.

Residents at nearby Park Central and shoppers at Market Fair are complaining of similar woes.

“Everyone is parking in Park Central which means if you have to go somewhere there you can’t get parking anymore,” Lexie Nooyen said.

Park Central resident Liz Rullis said she can’t get garbage services or tradies to come to her home because there is no space.

“I am pretty sure that all the people parking on our streets continually would be upset if we, residents parked in their driveways and made their life annoying,” she said.

Gerard Hayes, President of the Health Services Union, says the paid parking is “insulting” to hospital cleaners, therapists and security officers as they have already had a pay freeze. Picture: Supplied

“If there wasn‘t a parking station everyone would be screaming that there is not enough parking … but there is one, plus lots of vacant parking areas … I see when I walk through the hospital.”

Gerard Hayes, President of the Health Services Union, said paid parking was “insulting” to hospital cleaners, therapists and security officers as they have already had a pay freeze.

“Politicians love to pose for selfies with health workers but we need more than platitudes. We need respect,” Mr Hayes said.

“Charging our pandemic heroes $50 a fortnight to park at their workplace is a big ugly tax on the people who can least afford it.”

Mr Hayes described the new incentive has a “sneaky backdoor tax on infrastructure”.

Wayno Hindmarsh Diehl said his once quiet street is now full of hospital workers parking in it. Picture: Supplied

“In the middle of the COVID vaccination rollout, our healthcare heroes are more important than ever,” he said.

“This decision needs to be reversed immediately.”

Federal Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren has been against the paid parking from the beginning and has remained a vocal opponent of it.

“There has been copious numbers of residents contact myself and my office about the introduction of paid parking at Campbelltown Hospital,” he told the Macarthur Chronicle.

“The message is very clear – our community does not, and will not, support slugging patients, their loved ones and staff to park at the hospital.

“I have made our community’s position clear to the Minister for Health on multiple occasions and I will continue do so.

“This is profiteering of other people’s misery and it is totally unacceptable.”