Calls for a multi-storey carpark in Clarke Street to alleviate Tauranga Hospital's parking woes are being ruled out by hospital officials due to financial implications and swamp land.
An outpouring of public response to SunLive's recent story on an additional 200 car parks being freed up by the hospital suggested such a facility would be a positive step.
An aerial shot of Tauranga Hospital and its parking. Photo: Bruce Barnard.
But Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Phil Cammish told SunLive the hospital has committed to leasing an additional 200 parking spaces off campus to be used by DHB staff.
This will free up 200 bays in the Clarke Street car park currently allocated to staff. They will instead be exclusively for patients and visitors from November 2014.
In response, one SunLive reader says the hospital still needs to seriously consider building a three or four storey car park building that would be better than constantly driving around in search of a precious parking space.
'Having been in there for a stay recently it is shocking [car parking] and a building would be better in the long run.”
Others say building the carpark would be a step in the right direction in order to get some 'parking relief”.
Another idea put forward is a multi-story car park with the heliport and hanger on the top level, in line with the hospital, so there is no need to use a lift.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board property services manager Jeff Hodson rules out plans to develop a multi-storey carpark down on Clarke Street public car park site.
In the past the BOPDHB has completed investigations into constructing one on Clarke St, but the swamp foundations mean the project is not feasible.
Along with the site's contours, the big challenge the BOPDHB faces, as with any such development, is the need to implement a charge commensurate with the cost of funding the building, says Jeff.
This charge would come in the form of car parking fees.
'The equation of cost versus rental is workable in major cities, however in provincial locations the scenario is normally either the parking fee is too high, or the car park owner has to subsidise the fee.
'In this instance, that subsidy would be public money which would be otherwise spent on healthcare.”
5 comments
Yes, Waikato Hospital have Done It
Posted on 06-10-2014 10:40 | By tabatha
Over the past year we have had to go to Waikato Hospital for the wife's mother and are impressed with the ease to find parking in their parking buildings. Yes we had to pay and did not object to that. In fact last time was a 30 minute visit and that turned out free, so some encouragement done for quick visits. Tauranga does have problems but not unsurmountable. Keep investigating and perhaps a rebuild on the old RSA site or Nurses home to accommodate. Keep thinking outside the square, possible to get a firm to build to get repaid by charging reasonably for parking to get their money back.
Reality
Posted on 06-10-2014 11:05 | By YOGI BEAR
Is that car parking needs to be provided that is adequate for the sites needs, to do otherwise means that the streets around are clogged up and the burden and costs are off loaded to TCC ratepayers. That is an abdication of responsibility for the issue at hand and certainly takes no account of the economic costs of doing it.
Healthcare more than just a bed!
Posted on 06-10-2014 12:20 | By Murray.Guy
'In this instance, that subsidy would be public money which would be otherwise spent on healthcare.” Perhaps the BOP Health Board staff need a reminder in regards the provision of acceptable levels of health care, and the components of 'healthcare'. BOPHB is allocated public funds to ensure best community health outcomes for the 'public it serves'. A critical provision is that of access to the service providers and structures (the physical hospital emergency department and wards) which includes parking. Healthcare is NOT just about patients and bed pans, but equally so about family and friends who play an important part in health recovery and or support. A good start would be giving patients and visitors priority parking closest to services and move the free staff / doctor all day parking further away.
Parking
Posted on 06-10-2014 13:24 | By surfsup
Perhaps the hospital could make all staff including the doctors park off site and actually have all the car parks for visitors.
Parking
Posted on 06-10-2014 14:41 | By NZgirl
Charge a dollar for everyone soon get the money and build it
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