A $5 million allocation in the June 19 state budget will go to purchase land for more car parking and the start of work.

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said the expansion of the car park at Port Macquarie Base Hospital had been one of her highest priorities and was a very welcome inclusion in the budget with $5 million towards the $11.5 million cost to provide hundreds of additional car parking spaces.

She said the funding announcement, which would see land purchased and the existing car park reconfigured, would ensure staff and visitors could easily find a parking spot at the hospital.

Port Macquarie resident Emma Burley said more parking at the hospital would be lovely.

“I think it’s dangerous with people double parking,” she said.

Ms Burley said more parking should make it safer and more convenient.

“You sometimes just drive and drive and drive [to find a park],” she said.

The courtesy vehicle, Ms Burley said, was nice because it was definitely a long way to walk from down the back.

A volunteer-driven electric vehicle, named the Pink Mobile, delivers Port Macquarie Base Hospital patients and visitors from the car park to the hospital’s front door.

The service has operated for about five years.

Helena Stein welcomed the funding announcement to boost parking.

“I think from listening to my friends who have been at the hospital for different reasons, it needed to happen a long time ago,” she said.

“More parking is really needed, especially for our elderly community and the sick people who come here."

Miss Stein said it was great the car park expansion was going to happen.

Car parking spots are in high demand at the Wrights Road hospital.

Mrs Williams said although an additional 200 spaces were created in 2012, our hospital had grown substantially in recent years, and as anyone visiting the hospital will tell you, trying to find a car park could be difficult at times.

“Action on the Port Macquarie Base Hospital car park will mean life is easier for everyone in Port Macquarie when accessing the healthcare they need,” she said.

Mid North Coast Local Health District chief executive Stewart Dowrick welcomed the announcement and opportunity to improve car parking for patients, staff and visitors to Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

Port Macquarie Base Hospital is a major referral hospital for the Hastings Macleay Network. 

It provides care for people in the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area and beyond.

The hospital car park expansion is just one of the projects to attract budget funding in the Port Macquarie electorate.