General News
3 July, 2025
Hospital staff car parking win
NINETY-five dedicated car parks in the Cairns Regional Council Bunda St car park have been allocated to Cairns Hospital staff who will be shuttled to and from the Esplanade medical facility.
A council spokesman said the council had been working with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) to find a solution to their parking concerns for staff at Cairns Hospital.
“The result is 95 dedicated parking bays for Cairns Hospital staff within the Bunda St car park, with CHHHS to be issued permits for distribution to staff,” he said.
“These reserved bays are clearly marked (in yellow) for hospital staff only and (the) council will undertake usual enforcement practices as required.
“All other bays in the carpark remain accessible to the public.”
CHHHS chief executive Leena Singh said the service was preparing to launch the new park and ride service for Cairns Hospital staff.
“The service, which has been planned for many months with the council, will be available to staff from Mondays to Fridays,” she said.
“Staff will be able to register and collect a parking permit from Cairns Hospital at a later date.
“This is a temporary solution to alleviate carparking challenges within the Cairns Hospital precinct.
“We will be monitoring and review the service, including feedback from staff using it, in order to maximise its usage and ensure it meets the needs of our staff.”
It is understood CHHHS is planning a new parking lot near the hospital and another multistorey car park is part of the hospital’s master plan in Charles St on the site of the Cairns Municipal Band which is moving to Greenslopes St.
Cairns Local News first broke the story about the car parking crisis for staff around the hospital in November last year.
A nurse raised the alarm about the lack of all-day parking as well as staff incurring hefty parking fines. She started a petition which was backed by the midwives and nurses union.
