Fees return at hospital car park

FEES for parking in the expanded multi-deck Grampians Health Mair Street car park behind the Ballarat Base Hospital are back.

Vehicles in the eight-level car park for more than three hours will be charged.

The multi-deck lot has 400 additional free-timed spaces since it was upgraded in 2024.

Grampians Health CEO Dale Fraser said the fees will help the health service maintain the facility, boost security, and aim to improve the user experience.

“More importantly, Grampians Health will help ensure that resources are not diverted from direct patient care services to support car parking management,” he said.

“Over the past few months, we have provided free car parking to our staff and the community as a thank you for their patience and support during the expansion works.

“However, it is now time to reintroduce parking fees.

“We will continue to offer free-timed parking for all in our community and also a discounted staff rate.

“To receive three hours of free-timed parking, tickets must be validated at our main reception on the ground floor of the GP Foyer.

“We believe this change will ultimately benefit our entire community, and most importantly, provide greater access to healthcare services.”

Since last Monday, 30 minutes of parking is free, 30 mins to one hour is free with a validated ticket or $3, one to two hours is free with a validated ticket or $6, and two to three hours is free with a validated ticket or $9.

Three to four hours costs $12, it’s $15 or four to five hours, $18 for five to six hours, $21 for six to seven hours, and seven to eight hours (24 hours) is $22.50.