WE see almost weekly announcements of new publicly-funded infrastructure being planned and constructed at Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast.

It is claimed that allocation of $495 million for Eden Bann and Rookwood Weirs is supported by all three levels of government and business and industry. Since the election of the State Government in January, it has shown it is willing to do more than listen, it is also injecting substantial funding into high profile projects. TMB stated on August 28 this year that the Yeppoon Foreshore Redevelopment has attracted $29 million State Government funding to date. This does not include up to $10 million in future from the Federal Government through the National Stronger Regions Fund. The Rockhampton Riverbank has attracted $15 million State Government funding. Two projects and $44 million so far in State Government funding.

Good work by the State Government and of course well done by the two councils. But I ask, where do people park their cars at the Rockhampton Hospital? There is complete silence from all levels of government about what is being done to meet the desperate need for a decent car park. Capricorn Enterprise has long identified a priority project for this region is promoting the Rockhampton/Capricorn Coast region as a major health hub. However, I believe that before the vision for the health hub, we need to start with this too-hard issue.

The problems experienced by staff, patients, tradespeople and visitors finding a park are worsening. Finding a park is a daily debacle. I was there last month for an appointment for one of my children and some parents with young children who were parked way down Milroy Street told me the situation was a disgrace. It is no better for people with wheelchairs as the disabled carparks are scanty. That same day a friend of my wife said she could not park there as the places were all gone.

There is no solution being discussed. A public consultation process by the Central Queensland Hospital and Health has been and gone.

Why is this so when extremely large sums of money are being provided for other projects? Nobody yet knows what is planned, where it will be built, what it will cost, or the proposed parking fees for the public. And of course, when it will be constructed.

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Board have responsibility for solving this problem.

In fairness, the board needs external funding for this project from both State and Federal Governments and even the private sector. However, the board simply must not continue to build additional hospital buildings and facilities at Rockhampton Hospital without providing sufficient car parking facilities.

The board needs to announce its plans and the State and Federal governments must make it a priority.

Ewan Filmer