The Palaszczuk Government in Queensland, Australia, has allocated approximately $60m in the 2023-24 state budget to build a multi-storey car park at Hervey Bay Hospital.

Planned to have more than 550 spaces, the new car park aims to improve accessibility for patients and visitors.

Construction is set to start next year, with the facility scheduled to commence operations in 2026.

Hervey Bay member Adrian Tantari said: “This car park will ease a lot of pressure on those who rely on the hospital regularly while also creating a more user-friendly approach to accessing the hospital for patients.”

This investment is part of the government's wider commitment to healthcare, including the expansion of the Hervey Bay Hospital to add an acute mental health unit, a new helipad, and additional patient beds.

The budget also includes significant investments in health infrastructure, renewable energy, education, and cost-of-living relief measures.

Commenting on the new car park, trade and investment minister Cameron Dick said: “It will be an essential part of a growing hospital, which is currently going through an $82.3m expansion as part of Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service’s $1.9bn health infrastructure spend. Queensland Labor has always helped Queenslanders when they are going through hard times, like those battling during the national cost of living challenge.

“The government announced $8.2bn in concessions in the recent budget, including $550 electricity rebates for every household, and $1,072 for seniors and concession card holders. Our $89bn Big Build programme, the biggest infrastructure project in the state’s history, gets on with building the roads, bridges, hospitals, and energy infrastructure the state needs for the future.”