Goulburn Base Hospital upgrade sparks council comment

The Southern NSW Health District says it will manage parking needs pre and post construction on Goulburn Base Hospital’s redevelopment.

The Health Service was responding to Goulburn Mulwaree Council concerns last week about parking arrangements during building of the $120 million upgrade.

“The $120m includes provision of additional parking, as well as making it easier for staff and visitors to access the hospital,” a spokeswoman said.  

“The successful construction tenderer responsible for the redevelopment will be required to undertake a Traffic Control Plan prior to commencing work, which will outline all parking and traffic control during construction. Access to the hospital will be maintained at all times.” 

She said the project, currently before the NSW Planning and Environment Department, proposed that buildings along the western boundary of the hospital, including the existing maternity ward, would be demolished to allow for more parking as part of the redevelopment.

“The project will deliver more on-campus parking and the number of additional car spaces will be confirmed as design progresses. We will continue consulting with all car park users on the plans and specific details of the car park, and, in collaboration with Health Infrastructure, investigate appropriate parking arrangements in the area while construction takes place.”

However the project’s environmental impact statement outlines an extra 54 spaces, bringing the total to 196 car parking spots. These would be dispersed around the hospital Faithfull, Goldsmith, Albert and Clifford Streets.

Council general manager Warwick Bennett last week called on the Health District to finalise its plans for parking during construction. This was to enable adequate time for council input and community consultation. 

Mr Bennett suggested that land on the corner of Mount and Fitzroy Streets could be used for staff parking while building was underway. Another option was to use the helipad area for this purpose and for helicopters to use Prell Oval.

Meantime, in a letter to the editor, Goulburn man Barry McDonald said the hospital parking would cause months of parking disruption.

“One part of the solution would be to allow the staff to take Health vehicles home overnight during construction and return to work with them next day,” he wrote.

“This would minimise the number of staff owned private vehicles parked all day in the streets around the hospital.  Hopefully the Southern NSW Health senior management can see this.

“Prell Oval would not be a good site for constant helicopter landings and take offs, (with) ots of dirt and dust flying.  I think the current site off Clifford Street needs to stay.  I was surprised the draft plans for the new hospital didn't include roof top landing for helicopters. This would have been practical and freed up more ground space.”

Construction on the upgraded facility is expected to start in September. 

The EIS is on public exhibition with a copy available for inspection at Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Bourke Street or online through the Department of Environment and Planning at this link.  Public submissions are invited until April 23.