SIGNATURES are adding up on a petition launched by two Redland politicians last month.
LNP candidate for Bowman Henry Pike, and state MP for Oodgeroo Mark Robinson say they have received a strong public response to their push to maintain free parking at Redland Hospital.
Mr Pike said more than 1000 locals had signed an online petition expressing their opposition to the plan to impose parking fees across the hospital campus.
A new $50.5 million, seven-level car park is being built at Redland Hospital, which is expected to be completed in mid-2022.
The federal government has contributed $16 million to the project.
Mr Pike said the state government had revealed that it not only intended to impose fees on the new carpark, but across all the areas where it was currently free to park.
"The community is very concerned that they are being seen as a cash cow to fill central coffers," Mr Pike said.
"We want to see the state government change their position and commit to keeping parking free at Redland Hospital."
Mr Robinson said people were concerned the fees would have an impact on regular users of the hospital.
"Hospitals are an asset for the whole community, they shouldn't be funded solely by staff, patients and visitors," he said.
A Metro South Health spokesperson said as with all hospitals in south east Queensland, Redland Hospital would transition to paid parking for staff and the public across the campus once the car park opened.
Parking rates will be used for capital repayments, operations, and maintenance of the car park.
The cost for parking at Redland Hospital will be finalised closer to it opening, and concessions will be available for eligible patients and carers. There will also be a staff rate.
Mr Pike and Mr Robinson said they would be writing to Health Minister Yvette D'Ath to express the community's concern about the proposed fees.
The petition can be accessed at tinyurl.com/freeparkingRedlandHospital
