MAJOR works on the $7 million expansion of the Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) carpark begun last week, with the State Government indicating the project will create “dozens” of new jobs.

An extra 205 car parking spaces are set to be added to the western side of the existing multi-level carpark off of Mark Road as part of the wider $58 million development of the hospital.

The project will be undertaken in stages in an attempt to reduce the impact on the existing car park, with all works expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

Health minister Stephen Wade said the extension would complement other initiatives at the hospital, such as a new mental health short stay unit and an expansion of the resuscitation and paediatric assessment units.

“We are undertaking a landmark hospital infrastructure build of more than $1 billion to ease pressure on the state’s emergency departments and ensure people can get the care they need closer to home,” he said.

“We know that, with the growing population in the north, demand on local health care services has increased, resulting in both visitors and staff often struggling to find car parking.

“The major extension works to the multi-deck will provide a total of 1432 car parks on site at LMH to alleviate that pressure.

“As part of the car park extension works, dozens of construction workers will be on site throughout the build.”

Last year, the State Government also entered into a lease agreement with Northwest Healthcare Australian Property and Perpetual Corporate Trust for 250 staff-only carparks on Haydown Road.

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network acting executive director of nursing and midwifery Andrew McGill said the extension to the car park is the next stage in the $58 million redevelopment at the hospital.

“The car park extension is a critical part of the upgrades of the existing emergency department, which includes expanding the resuscitation, paediatric assessment, short stay and acute treatment areas, and a new mental health short stay unit to the LMH,” he said.

“While we’ll lose around 67 existing car parks to make way for the new ED expansion, the extra car parking spaces will further increase safety and ensure easier access to the hospital for both visitors and staff.

“We thank our staff, patients and visitors to the hospital for their patience during construction of the car park and upcoming redevelopment of the hospital.”