The Albany Health Campus has completed a significant expansion of its car park, adding 100 new bays to improve accessibility for visitors, patients, and staff. The project, which cost $2 million, addresses the previous parking shortages that often forced individuals to park on the verge.
On October 20, 2023, John Carey, the Minister for Health Infrastructure, announced the completion of the construction. He expressed satisfaction with the project’s impact on the Albany community, stating, “It’s great to see this important project for the Albany community reach practical completion, making the hospital more accessible for patients, families, and staff.”
The expansion is not merely about additional parking spaces; it also encompasses upgraded lighting and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems designed to enhance safety for those accessing hospital services. “Our government is delivering massive projects as part of our $4.9 billion health infrastructure spend, while also ensuring smaller, but still critically important, works like this expansion are progressed,” Carey added.
Construction at the Spencer Park facility commenced in February 2023, with Devlyn Construction serving as the managing contractor. This initiative fulfills a campaign promise made by former Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens in 2021, addressing the ongoing parking difficulties experienced due to the limited bays available previously.
The newly expanded car park includes features such as wayfinding signage, safety bollards, pathways, and crosswalks. These enhancements, alongside the security lighting and CCTV, aim to create a safer environment for all users. Funding for the project originated from the 2023-24 State budget.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat emphasized the significance of the car park upgrade, particularly in light of upcoming expansions at the hospital. “Albany Health Campus is undergoing some exciting changes to ensure the hospital continues to meet the needs of the community now and into the future,” she said. Hammat noted that this upgrade is timely, coming ahead of the planned construction of a 32-bed modular ward, which will further increase capacity within the facility.
“This important and timely upgrade to the hospital’s car park comes ahead of a planned 32-bed modular ward build, significantly increasing capacity inside the facility,” Hammat stated. The expansion is part of a larger effort to invest in health infrastructure to ensure all Western Australians have access to necessary healthcare services when they need them.
With the completion of this project, the Albany Health Campus is better positioned to serve the growing community, reflecting a commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility in the region.
