NSW Premier Mike Baird and Health Minister Jillian Skinner today said the official opening of the new $10 million multi-storey car park at Sutherland Hospital is another demonstration of the NSW Government’s commitment to improving access to the State’s busiest hospitals.

Local MPs Mark Speakman (Cronulla), Lee Evans (Heathcote) and Melanie Gibbons (Menai) joined the Premier and Mrs Skinner to cut the ribbon and watch the first car enter the car park.

“The NSW Government is getting on with the job of improving access to the State’s hospitals for staff, patients and their families,” Mr Baird said.

“The four-storey structure will provide about 300 additional places for staff and the public, taking the number of spaces on the Sutherland Hospital campus to more than 1,000.

“I am proud the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has today delivered yet another of our key election commitments.

“We are not just building new hospitals – we are delivering car parks to service them.

“We have committed to, or delivered, more than $130 million in hospital car park projects across the State in our first four-year term, providing well over 4,000 extra car spaces.”

Mrs Skinner said parking is one of the most commonly raised issues as she visits hospitals around the State.

“Eliminating the frustration of finding a parking space can help relieve the stress already associated with a hospital visit,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Access to secure parking is also important for the staff who care for patients and families who support their loved ones.

“The NSW Government is proud to have delivered this car park. It is an exciting time for Sutherland Hospital, with planning underway for a major redevelopment of the hospital, which would include up to 60 new inpatient beds and a refurbishment of the emergency department.”

The Sutherland Hospital car park project is located on the site of an existing car park. It includes:

· Phase 1 – additional ground level car spaces at the eastern end of the staff car park on the site of the former helipad (completed);
· Phase 2 – the new four-level multi-storey car park at the western end (opened today);
· Phase 3 – the remainder of the ground-level car spaces adjacent to the multi-deck will be reconfigured and reconstructed to suit the new layout (expected to be completed in October).

Rates for parking in the new multi-storey car park will be in line with the NSW Health Hospital Car Parking Policy 2013.

For visitors, the first hour will be $5.00, with a maximum daily rate of $18.50. Concessional rates will apply to eligible users, including pensioners and patients requiring cancer treatment and long-term health care.

Staff will pay a maximum weekly fee of $21.60, which is tax deductible.

Since its election in March 2011, the NSW Liberal & Nationals Government has built or is building car parks, including:

· Liverpool Hospital – 930 spaces
· Nepean Hospital – 650 spaces
· Blacktown Hospital – 600 spaces
· Sutherland Hospital – 300 spaces
· Wollongong Hospital – 700 spaces
· Shoalhaven Hospital – 124 spaces
· Coffs Harbour Hospital – 450 spaces
· Lismore Base Hospital – 250 spaces

The NSW Government has also allocated planning money for the new car park at Westmead Hospital Campus as part of the massive planned redevelopment.

PHOTO 1: [L to R] Lee Evans (Heathcote), NSW Premier Mike Baird, Health Minister Jillian Skinner, Melanie Gibbons (Menai) and Mark Speakman (Cronulla).

PHOTO 2: [L to R] Mark Speakman (Cronulla), NSW Premier Mike Baird, Sutherland Hospital volunteer Peggy Roberts and Health Minister Jillian Skinner.