A MOUNT Gambier amputee has joined the community outcry over the lack of parking spaces at Mount Gambier Hospital, with the health facility taping off grassed areas to motorists.
Revelations grassed areas are now barricaded with tape has sparked a stinging backlash on social media with people calling for immediate action.
Community frustrations also spilled over yesterday with residents purposely cutting the tape barricades that block grass areas.
This follows upset motorists also ripping out timber bollards so they could park on grassed areas at the hospital site.
While Mount Gambier Hospital management has plans to extend the carpark by 60 spaces, it has yet to announce funding or a start date for the project.
“I’m absolutely disgusted with the carpark situation and have been for years, but even more so now that I’m a amputee,” Andrew Lynch said at the hospital yesterday.
” I have watched the elderly and disabled have to try and get out of cars because of not enough disabled parking.”
Mr Lynch said he had even given up disabled parking spaces for people with greater mobility issues even though he had his own challenges.
“I might not have a leg any more, but I will tell you this, I’m still strong enough to park on the grass and get to my appointment,” he said.
“I have seen others that cannot, so if push came to shove I’ll park on the grass. I have also seen elderly people park along the road and walk a long way in the rain.”
Mr Lynch said it was time the volume of patients were reflected in the number of parking spaces.
“I have also spent months in that hospital and watched nursing staff have to use public parking because there’s not enough staff parking.”
Mr Lynch said there was also a shortfall in the number of disabled parking spaces.
“I usually have to park in a normal carpark and walk – I have seen some people in wheelchairs park in doctor spaces because they have no choice,” he said.
“I have nearly slipped over after parking in a grassed areas, particularly when it is raining. I can only imagine what it is like for an older person who is frail and has to get into a wheelchair or walking frame.”
South East Labor politician Clare Scriven yesterday called on the State Government to end the delay and move forward with the carpark project.
“We need urgent action, there are not enough parking spaces,” Ms Scriven said.
She also warned there was also not enough street parking in the vicinity and raised the possibility of people slipping and falling on grassed areas.
Ms Scriven – who is a Legislative Council parliamentary member – said the current situation was a safety issue, particularly for the elderly and those with disabilities.
A Limestone Coast Local Health Network spokesperson said this week the hospital management was aware of the issue.
“We are aware of the demand for additional parking at Mount Gambier Hospital and have started planning to expand availability,” the spokesperson said.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell – who has been pushing for a carpark expansion – has described the vehicles as “stacked up like sardines”.
Limestone Coast Local Health Network chief executive officer Ngaire Buchanan has previously told The Border Watch there were plans for an additional 60 parking spaces.
“We are looking at the funding for that at the moment,” Ms Buchanan said.
Ms Buchanan said there was ample vacant space to build a 60-space carpark at the rear of the hospital.
“We have a lot of government cars at the side, which will move to the back so there is more parking for the community,” she said.
The health executive also flagged they were looking to increase the size of the current parking spaces due to them being “quite close together”.
She revealed the size of the spaces were reduced to fit more vehicles onto the site.
It is nearly 10 years since the carpark was significantly expanded following a decade-long campaign by the community.
