Redcliffe hospital carpark opening soon

If you’re wondering when Redcliffe Hospital’s new carpark is going to open, you won’t have to wonder for much longer. It’s almost finished.

The long-awaited $36 million multi-storey carpark is due to open in September, providing about 600 parking bays.

That means, the days of driving around the carpark and surrounding streets looking for place to park will soon be over.

Queensland Attorney General and State Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath says a firm opening date will be announced in coming weeks, but construction is well-progressed.

“I see it as one of the long-term legacy things and part of a massive investment in that hospital in the last five years,” Mrs D’Ath says.

How’s it looking?

“It’s striking, but not in a way that it’s offensive to the eye. It’s designed to take in the colours of the bay and the water and the waves,” Mrs D’Ath explains.

“We’ve listened to the community who said we don’t want a big ugly concrete carpark.”

Builder Woollam Constructions is putting the finishing touches to the structure, with a focus now on the landscaping and surrounds. The project has created 108 construction jobs.

Seeds have been collected and propagated so local trees can be planted around the structure, tying it in with the existing landscape.

How much will it cost to park there?

Mrs D’Ath hasn’t seen the final fee structure, but says it will cost no more than $15 per day.

She’s waiting to see what the rate will be for staff and those entitled to a subsidy, and expects these details to be finalised soon.

“I know the public would rather not pay, but this sort of infrastructure doesn’t come cheap and has to be paid for,” she says.

This carpark will be the first in southeast Queensland built and owned and operated by a hospital and health service.

She says there was talk about it being outsourced, but Metro North Hospital and Health Service thought it could manage it and use the funds raised to pay for the build, rather than use a private company.

Key features

• 600 parking bays
• Covered disability parking on the ground floor close to the hospital
• Solar panels to power lights and supply other electricity needs
• Charging stations for electric vehicles
• Rain harvesting to water surrounding gardens

“A lot of thought has gone into it. We’re looking after the environment and keeping costs down,” Mrs D’Ath says.

Planning for the future

The multi-storey carpark will have spaces for 600 cars, but has been designed and built in a way that it can easily be expanded upwards, with extra levels added as needed. There’s a ramp to the roof, so this can happen.

Mrs D’Ath says they could have built for more than was needed now, but instead opted to come up with a design that enabled expansion in the future.

“I see it as one of the long-term legacy things and it’s part of a massive investment in that hospital in the last five years,” she says.

Mrs D’Ath likens it to projects, such as the Redcliffe Peninsula Rail Line, which have also made a big difference to the community and will for decades to come.

“It’s about saying Redcliffe is a really important health hub for the whole region,” she says.

Welcome news for community

“We know people often have to park a fair distance away and walk down the street at the moment,” she says.

They also often have to drop patients off, while they drive around and around looking for a car park.

“If you have someone with mobility issues and someone with a disability, it’s hard to leave them there and park the car,” she says.

That worry and concerns about personal safety walking long distances to cars late at night, will also be a thing of the past.

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