Time to commit to a car parking building at the Christchurch Hospital

Raf Manji, the Independent Candidate for Ilam, today announced a commitment to build a new car park beside the Christchurch Hospital. He said, “Seven years after the first earthquakes this issue remains bogged down by bureaucratic process and political infighting. It’s about time we gave some certainty to patients, staff and visitors, that they have a safe and affordable place to park, which is connected to the hospital.”

There have been increasing concerns for the safety of hospital staff, especially those arriving early or finishing late. Many patients have also reported higher levels of stress in just accessing hospital services, with the park and ride option being very challenging and tiring. It also makes life very difficult for visitors.

The Hospital redevelopment, and wider Health Precinct (Te Papa Hauora) are major assets that will benefit the whole of the South Island for generations to come. “Leaving something as fundamental to its success as the provision of good car parking to the market was patently unacceptable.”

Manji proposes a new 500 space car parking building, opposite the Outpatients building, to be connected by an air bridge. The cost of this would be approximately $15-20m and be funded from his proposed $1b Investment Fund for Christchurch. It would be run as a non-profit enterprise, to be owned and operated by either the hospital, the council’s development company or community development group. He notes, “The lack of proper car parking at the hospital has been raised by many Ilam residents that I have spoken to recently, but it’s a city wide issue, and it needs to be addressed now”.

The focus would be on providing safe, accessible parking options for those providing and accessing medical services. “Going to hospital is stressful at the best of times, and any hospital should be providing appropriate access for patients, staff and visitors”. ENDS

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