OODGEROO MP Mark Robinson and Redlands LNP candidate Henry Pike have welcomed plans for a five-level car park at Redland Hospital but say visitors and staff should not be charged to use the facility.
It follows an announcement by Health Minister Steven Miles, who said parking rates for the $50.5 million facility were likely to be lower than those at other outer urban hospitals.
It means people can expect to pay less than what they would would at Princess Alexandra Hospital, where an hour in the multi-storey facility costs $8.80.
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Mr Miles said the project was to be completed internally and using government funds, allowing fees to be kept as low as possible.
But Mr Robinson said he feared people would have to pay more to use the facility because of the extra features included in the plan, including provisions for solar panels, water tanks and end-of-trip facilities.
"The car park is overpriced and overdue, but should have been free and faster," he said.
Mr Miles said a decision on rates would be determined before the car park was opened, with construction due to finish in 2022.
"We have discounted rates for outer urban car parks," he said.
"We also have concessions available for those that need to attend hospital regularly and who experience hardship, as well as arrangements to allow our staff to salary sacrifice those parking costs.
"There are rates at other outer urban hospitals. The rates here are likely to be lower than that but we will continue to develop those as we go to tender."
Mr Robinson called on the government to rule out reducing the availability of free car parks as a result of the new facility.
It was announced last week that 713 undercover parking spots would be installed, bringing the total number of spaces to 1162.
Mr Pike, who launched a petition calling for improvements to the parking situation last month, said public pressure had forced the government to make an announcement.
It was set to be a hot-topic for the LNP in the October state election for the Labor-held seats of Redlands and Capalaba.
"It only came 171 days overdue, and 443 days after the Morrison government offered to jointly fund the project," Mr Pike said.
"Sadly, we won't see the project completed for several years, and when we do get it we will have to pay for it."
Capalaba MP Don Brown said the state government had already provided $3 million up front so enabling works could begin immediately.
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