Doubled car parking capacity and extra beds for Nambour General Hospital

A new 150 space car park at Nambour General Hospital will improve visitor access to the hospital as it undergoes a major expansion, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said the new cark park under construction on land adjacent to Nambour General Hospital was expected to deliver 100 new spaces by the end of August.

“We’ve acquired land adjacent to the hospital to build a new car park and we expect an extra 100 on grade spaces to be available by the end of August,” he said.

“The remaining car parking spaces will come on line as the hospital expansion progresses.

“There will be a net gain of 130 car parks when the Nambour General Hospital project is completed in 2011.”

Mr Robertson said a parking shortage at Nambour General Hospital was forcing some staff to use short-stay parking spaces in the surrounding streets.

“There’s limited on-site public parking at the hospital, with only around 100 spaces available,” he said.

“This on-site parking pressure was making it harder for visitors to find car parks in the hospital precinct.

“We’re confident that by doubling car park capacity in the hospital precinct, we’ll ease parking pressure in the surrounding streets.

“Ultimately this will result in improved visitor access to the hospital.

“Construction of the new ward block will result in a loss of 20 parking spaces on the hospital campus, but this will be offset by the 150 new parking spaces.”

The staff car park forms part of the Sunshine Coast and Cooloola Health Services District additional bed capacity project.

The project will see the Bligh Government deliver 126 new beds at Nambour General Hospital.

“We’re delivering 96 of these new beds in a state-of-the-art $150 million ward block,” he said.

“The new ward block will consist of a new 24-bed paediatric ward, two 24-bed general wards and a 24-bed respiratory ward.

“Additionally, it will house a Specialist Outpatients Department, pre-admissions clinic, a 7-chair renal dialysis training, Antenatal and Paediatrics clinics and a relocated Special Care Baby Unit.

“The project means we’re delivering 66 more beds than we promised at the last election.

“The Bligh Government is also planning for the future by investing in a $1.21 billion, 650-bed capacity Sunshine Coast Hospital at Kawana.

“We’re also delivering an extra 30 beds as part of the $27 million Caloundra Hospital redevelpoment.”

Media: Martin Philip 3225 2680 or 0407 675 008