A SAFETY review is under way into parking activity along Wellington St, Cleveland, as frustration grows over the number of Redland Hospital staff resorting to parking on surrounding streets.
Redland City Council says it is assessing multiple road elements to determine whether further safety measures are needed in the area.
“Council is currently finalising a safety review into numerous road elements and parking activity along this section of Wellington St to determine whether further safety measures are required,” a spokesperson said.
The review follows rising community concern about the risks to shift workers walking long distances in the dark, with residents also questioning why the multi-storey hospital car park is reportedly sitting largely empty.
Staff say it is unfair that frontline workers are forced to pay to park at their own workplace, with reports that nurses and admin staff are missing out on free parking offered to senior clinicians.
Safety concerns have also been raised, particularly for shift workers walking long distances in the dark, while others say limited public transport options leave staff with no choice but to drive.
Redland City Councillor Peter Mitchell said the problem escalated “immediately after the Department of Health altered parking arrangements at Redland Hospital on land they control” – including pricing changes at the hospital’s multi-storey car park, which he claimed is “around 75 per cent empty”.
The price is $13 per day for visitors, while staff pay just under $8.
“These costs do not suit lower-paid hospital staff and visitors with poor public transport options and have forced them to seek unsafe alternatives,” Cr Mitchell said. “Generous staff discount arrangements should occur as a matter of common sense.”
While acknowledging the on-street parking is legal, Cr Mitchell said the current situation created risk.
State Member for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker said she was working with State and Federal colleagues to address the parking problems.
“We’re advocating for a range of potential solutions to the risks presented by the parking of hospital staff along Wellington St and in surrounding residential and industrial streets,” she said.
“I’m hopeful we can get a solution that encourages greater use of the hospital car park while keeping the cost within the means of our hard-working hospital staff.”
A Redland City Council spokesperson said on-street parking was currently permitted along Wellington St, except where signed otherwise.
“Council is mindful that any changes or restrictions to parking in this area would have impacts on nearby residential streets and, as such, is working closely with the Government to identify a shared parking solution,” the spokesperson said.
