- The Crisafulli Government's Hospital Rescue Plan for Townsville has reached a new milestone with enabling works now underway for the Townsville University Hospital's new multi-storey car park.
- Construction has started on an expansion of the eastern campus car park to deliver more than 300 new parking spaces.
- The completion of the expanded car park will enable construction to commence on the new multi-storey car park that will deliver more than 1,000 new parking spaces.
- The carpark is part of the Crisafulli Government's commitment to deliver easier access to health services and heal Labor's Health Crisis.
Townsville University Hospital's new multi-storey car park is a step closer, with the Crisafulli Government's Hospital Rescue Plan swinging into action on crucial enabling works.
Construction has started on an expansion of the hospital's eastern campus car park to deliver more than 300 parking spaces.
These new parking spaces will enable construction to commence on the new multi-storey car park that will ultimately deliver more than 1,000 new spaces.
This is a 50% increase on the 650 new spaces promised but not delivered by the former Labor Government in their failed hospital build project.
The independent report into Labor's failed expansion program revealed the devasting cost of their CFMEU tax.
Under Labor's plan, the CFMEU tax saw the cost to build the multi-storey car park blow out to $163,000 per parking space – more than double the cost of comparable metropolitan projects and quadruple that in other jurisdictions.
Now that Queensland's construction industry is no longer shackled by the CFMEU tax, projects like this one can be built at more competitive prices.
The eastern campus car park is being delivered by local construction company Shamrock Civil and is expected to be completed in July.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the new car park was just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is healing Labor's Health Crisis in Townsville.
"After a decade of decline under Labor, Townsville is finally seeing works progress on the Townsville University Hospital Expansion with stage 1A set to be delivered by 2029, including this crucial first step to enable building of a much-needed multi-storey car park," Minister Nicholls said.
"Labor's plan not only blew out by $500 million but would have left Townsville Hospital without key clinical services, such as a pharmacy or sterilising department.
"Our Hospital Rescue Plan is set to deliver an extra 165 new hospital beds for Townsville – 22 more than Labor promised – as well as a bigger emergency department, satellite imaging facilities, and an upgraded coronary care unit."
Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole said other works, including footpath improvements and additional Queensland Ambulance Service parking spaces outside the Emergency Department were also under way to maintain safe access and provide additional parking while construction progresses.
"Limited parking at the Townsville University Hospital was ignored for years by Labor, but our Hospital Rescue Plan is putting the expansion and multi-storey car park back on track," Ms Poole said.
Member for Townsville Adam Baillie said the multi-story car park was a critical component of the Hospital Rescue Plan for Townsville.
"Labor's all headline, no health plan approach for the Townsville University Hospital would have left North Queenslanders in need of healthcare with nowhere to turn, and nowhere to park, which is why we have fought so hard to get the planning right and ensure locals have easier access to health services close to home," Mr Baillie said.
Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr said the multi-storey car park project was being delivered by Queensland's own Hutchinson Builders and is expected to be completed by 2029.
"Searching for a car park when visiting the hospital can add more stress to already vulnerable patients and their families, so this key project is really going to be a gamechanger for our local communities," Ms Marr said.
Member for Hinchinbrook Wayde Chiesa said the improvements being made in Townsville under the Hospital Rescue Plan would benefit all North Queenslanders.
"Locals are going to see a significant increase in construction activity at the hospital this year, as we get on with the job of expanding spaces and services to ensure our communities are cared for now and well into the future," Mr Chiesa said.
