The NSW Government’s hospital car parking scheme has been a major success, with 110,000 extra concessions for patients and carers in its first four months.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard today announced the strong uptake of the scheme while marking the completion of Blacktown Hospital’s new $18 million multi-storey carpark expansion.
“Parking concessions introduced by the NSW Government in July last year are helping patients and families while they deal with the stress of their loved one being in hospital,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Under this concession scheme, patients and their carers have been able to save as much as $200 a week on parking fees at our public hospitals.”
Mr Hazzard said the new Blacktown Hospital carpark is part of the more than $700 million Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals expansion project.
More than 400 spaces have been added to the multi-storey carpark, building on the 600 spaces opened in 2014.
The Blacktown Hospital carpark is the State’s first to include parking navigation technology with red and green lights to help drivers find the nearest available space.
“Patients need and deserve accessible, affordable parking and that’s precisely what the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government has prioritised as part of the almost $8 billion building boom across our hospital facilities,” Mr Hazzard said.
“We have invested $42 million in improving parking for Western Sydney at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals since 2014.”
More than 1600 spaces are now available across the Blacktown Hospital campus.
John Riffel, who was a regular visitor to Blacktown Hospital for his prostate cancer treatment, said the parking concession saved him $220 over about eight weeks.
“Apart from the stresses of dealing with my illness, there are unavoidable travel and transport costs associated with my care. So having one less thing like parking fees to worry about is a big relief,” Mr Riffel said.
Hospital parking concessions are part of a raft of measures introduced by the NSW Government to help ease cost of living pressures for households. The Government has recently announced free car registration for regular toll users, cheaper greenslips and energy rebates.
Member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly said: “The hospital parking concession scheme has been widely welcomed by locals, as it eases cost pressures on families at a time when they are already under stress.”
Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor added: “More parking spaces in addition to the concession scheme is great news for families in Seven Hills. It’s all about making things easier for families during those important times.”
Carpark users can also benefit from the NSW Health Hospark app that helps visitors find parking information and directions to public hospitals across NSW.
Vision of the new Blacktown car park and fly-through of the Acute Services Building.
Further information on fees and concessions is available via NSW Public Hospital Parking, Services and Directions or the smartphone app.