Concerns have been raised about proposed parking charges at Burwood Hospital, with staff warning the move could push vehicles into surrounding residential streets and create safety and congestion issues for the wider community.

Health New Zealand sent an internal memo to staff last week outlining plans for a ‘nationally consistent approach’ to hospital parking.

The draft Parking Policy, marked in confidence, confirms a user pays model will apply across hospital campuses.

A Burwood Hospital nurse who contacted chrislynchmedia.com said while staff had been given a short window to make submissions, residents living near the hospital also needed to be made aware of what was being proposed.

“I do not want to appear entitled about having to pay for parking,” she said.

“My concern is what will happen to the surrounding streets if staff, visitors, and patients start parking outside the hospital grounds to avoid fees.”

She said Mairehau Road was likely to be particularly affected, with vehicles parked on both sides of the street creating difficulties for residents accessing driveways and for visitors coming and going.

The nurse also raised safety concerns near the medical centre and café by the wetlands.

“That area is already congested, buses often struggle to stop safely, and there have been several near misses with vehicles leaving the surgery car park because drivers cannot see oncoming traffic,” she said.

“I can see those problems getting worse.”

The full Parking Policy document seen by chrislynchmedia.com confirms parking will be administered on a user pays basis, with pay as you go fees and escalating hourly charges for patients and visitors.

It says parking charges will be linked to market rates and reviewed every two years.

“Parking charges will be made to staff, people and visitors who use the health services. Market pricing for the location, alongside comparative public transport pricing and the costs to provide and maintain the carpark, will be used as a guide to set parking rates,” the policy states.

“Priced parking has been shown to be an extremely effective demand management strategy.”

It adds that escalating hourly rates should deter staff from using patient and visitor bays.

“Private sector parking management and capital should be used in preference to public sector capital.”

Under the policy, where parking demand cannot be met on site, long term agreements may be reached with surrounding landowners, including the use of public on street parking areas.

Burwood Ward councillor Kelly Barber said he was not aware of the proposed changes and said the two large car parks at Burwood Hospital are owned by Health New Zealand, meaning consultation with the council would not be required.

“I would like to understand the problem they are trying to solve by introducing parking charges at Burwood Hospital, because I can already see the problems they are likely to create for local residents,” Barber said.

“I have had a number of complaints from residents on Marehau Road and Cameo Grove in relation to parking by people associated with the hospital. From what I understand it is primarily staff.”

“During the week, Cameo Grove, which is a narrow side street, is packed from dawn until dusk and residents have had to call parking enforcement several times to ticket cars encroaching on driveways,” he said.

“If charges are introduced at the two large hospital car parks, I think we will see more complaints.”

Barber said council transport staff would need to closely monitor surrounding streets if parking charges proceed.

“If there is a significant increase in on street parking, we need to make sure the safety of children walking to local schools is not being compromised,” he said.

Council head of Transport, Stephen Wright said traffic operations staff were not aware of the Health New Zealand’s proposal.

“Concerns or issues that are raised regarding on street parking are considered on a case-by-case basis.  We are unable to comment on any mitigation measures in regard to this specific proposal as it hasn’t come to us.”

Health NZ has been approached for comment.