Nurses two-hour parking dilemma as new zones kick in for Commonwealth Games

NURSES at the Gold Coast’s biggest and busiest hospital could be forced to leave work and move their cars every two hours during the Commonwealth Games because of a lack of carparking.

NURSES fear they will have to leave every two hours during hospital shifts to move their vehicles due to the lack of long term parking options around the Commonwealth Games Village.

The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal Queensland Health staff at Parklands have been told the only guarantee of getting a park was the expensive private parking facility used by patients and their families.

FULL LIST OF NO PARKING STREETS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Vehicles parked at the Secure’s car park at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Staff are being advised that “the only way of a guaranteed park is to salary sacrifice” to obtain a concession spot at the car park.

But nurses were advised by the parking management that “we are nearing the cap for designated staff parking through salary sacrificing, once that figure is reached a waiting list will be established for applicants”.

FULL LIST OF ROAD CLOSURES FOR 2018 GOLD COAST COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Staff will be forced to use the carpark.

The concession rates for staff are not advertised but daily parking for patients and relatives can cost between $6 an hour and $16.50 for more than three hours.

The two-hour zones at the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct and other Games hot spots will take effect from Friday, and enforced between 9am-5pm on week days.

Opposition health spokesman Ros Bates, who has fielded complaints from health staff, told the Bulletin: “It’s clear the safety of more than 2500 Gold Coast health workers during the Commonwealth Games is not important to Labor.

M1 SPEED LIMITS TO DROP DURING GAMES

Parking in the Secure facility is expensive.

“I would have thought the safety and welfare of these workers would be a priority. I’m concerned for their safety of these hardworking staff, many of them women and the impact these new car parking arrangements will have on patient care.

“How can these nurses do their jobs properly when they are worried about running out to move their car every two hours?”

GAMES WILL BRING ‘TRAFFIC-GHEDDON’ TO COAST

Opposition frontbencher Ros Bates has accused the Government of a Games bungle. Pic Marcy Robertson

The Gold Coast Bulletin understands that health staff undertook a staff travel survey by Get Set for the Games where more than half indicated they would be changing their journey to work during the April event.

Management has advised staff that if they do not pay for Secure on-site parking that they must make alternative arrangements.

Five recent GC2018 travel information sessions for staff were attended by more than 700 employees and an internet page created for health workers.

Staff were encouraged to reduce their travel during the Games, drive outside of peak hours, avoid congested roads and consider using a bike.

Parking will be an issue around the Hospital during the Games.

A Gold Coast Health spokesman said management were aware of the potential impact on staff who were not paying for on-site car parking.

“Beyond the introduction of the city of Gold Coast’s Traffic Area Parking Permit Scheme, we also know our staff and facilities will be impacted by changes to roads and public transport during the Commonwealth Games,” the spokesman said.

“This is not unique to Gold Coast Health. Having an international event like the Commonwealth Games in our city is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity and we are proud to be a part of it.

“We are working closely with our staff to minimise the impact on them. We continue to work with the team at Get Set for the Games to ensure access to our facilities for our workforce, patients and visitors.”