Parking problems council's fault: minister

12:00a.m. 8th August 2008

Owner of Belly Beautiful Marian Kerr says she is losing money because of a lack of parking outside her Nambour business. Photo: Chris McCormack/177553

Nambour business people have raised concerns about the number of car parks near the hospital just one day after health minister Stephen Robertson washed his hands of responsibility for the issue.

Mr Robertson, in Nambour on Wednesday to announce an extra 96 beds for the hospital, said the government was not to blame for parking problems in the area.

“This situation arose because of restrictions put in place by the local council,” he said.

He said residents would need to live with parking problems until the Sunshine Coast University Hospital was built at Kawana in 2014 and took away demand for spaces.

Mr Robertson suggested the government would cooperate with the council if a solution were found.

Nambour councillor Paul Tatton denied a change in local parking restrictions had caused the problem.

He said the government needed to look after its own employees and local residents.

Belly Beautiful Maternity owner Marian Kerr did not care who fixed the problem which she said was causing her to lose thousands of dollars each year.

Ms Kerr said she wanted something done so pregnant customers did not have to walk up the hill leading to her shop. She said some customers had reported driving for 40 minutes looking for a park before they gave up and went home.

“It’s definitely a major problem,” Ms Kerr said.

“I don’t think the blame sits squarely with either (the council or the state government) but it needs to be fixed and both have some responsibility in that.”

Queensland Health Sunshine Coast service development executive director Jennifer Goodwin said 2497 staff worked at the hospital either full-time or part-time.

Ms Goodwin said more than 400 spaces were available in the multi-storey car park, 270 were available on campus, and the new car park with 150 spaces was on the way.

But 20 spaces would be lost while the new block was being built.

Recent Comments

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Posted by CoastLover from Woombye

on 8 August, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

As a local business owner in Nambour I can attest that parking is a problem in just about any business district in Nambour except the plaza. My personal experience is that Council removed 4 car parks from directly in front of our business around 12 months ago and we have suffered financially ever since. And I know many other business owners in Nambour that complain about the lack of parking in town.

Recently Best and Less told everyone they are leaving, we just lost Betta Electrical and who knows how many other business have been severely affected by the lackof parking in Nambour. If you ask the COuncil or Councillor, there is plenty of parking in Nambour .... maybe but people won't walk 500 metres to shop when they can drive to a shopping centre and park underneath.

Basic principal applies here, if it's not convenient for people to park in close proximity to your business, then they won't come to your business. Simple concept really.

Posted by Coalface from Harrison

on 8 August, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Pathetic blame shifting from the State Government Minister!

The Qld government has also failed to supply adequate parking for the staff and public at the hospital, using their immunity from local planning requirements to ignore parking requirements while continuing to jam more buildings - and therefore more parking demand - onto the site.

And they leave the Council to try to cover the shortfall.

Maroochy Council has always been understandably reluctant to place the cost burden on the ratepayers of just Maroochy of supplying parking for a state facility that services the entire Sunshine Coast.

So perhaps now the Council is amalgamated, the State thinks they get away with their cost-shifting sleight of hand.

Posted by andrewm from Buddina, Kawana

on 8 August, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I disagree Coalface from Harrison.
This is the Health Minister who should be responsible for delivering adequate Health services not carparking.
As a 1 term councillor from the bad old “Culley days” you of all people should realise that this issue has festered for years.
The Council needs to improve the availability of parking not the State Gov. After all it was the Council who zoned & approved the relevant specialist medical services that exacerbates the problem around Blackall Terrace.

ps where is Harrison? Canberra ACT?
pps n how is your beloved Aust. Democrats party? n e chance of a comeback?

Andrew Muldoon
Buddina

Posted by Chauncy from Sunny Coast

on 8 August, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I am fed up with the current State Government’s lack of interest in the Sunshine Coast.

They seem to be set in mind to take from the coast and give little in return.

Their recent achievements as a government including local government amalgamations, acquisition of our water supply, and green lighting massive development targets seem to be founded on the principal that the community here can afford to subsidise their poor governance.

Our council has a huge job ahead of them to deliver community services, why should they and ultimately we, the community of the Sunshine Coast have to provide parking for a State managed facility such as the Hospital?

Time to stand up and be heard people.

I would be pleased to hear from Fiona Simpson if the revitalized opposition has a more human approach for providing appropriate services and facilities for our community..

Posted by Coalface from Harrison

on 11 August, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Well aren't you the clever little googler Andrew?
I may not live there anymore, but family do, and having put heart and sole into Maroochy, I retain an interest in what goes on there. You have a problem with that?

You're kidding when you say that the State shouldn't have to fund the carparking shortfall that goes with the hospital surely? So you believe the council should force people out of their houses around the hospital to build carparks because the State refuses to provide adequately within its own facility?

So where do you see such cost shifting ending? Perhaps the council should have to cough up to expand the maternity ward? Get real.

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