New look: An artist's impression of how the Maroondah Hospital expansion will look.
EASTERN Health has made no commitment to adding more on-site parking as part of its current expansion of Maroondah Hospital.
The off-street parking woes of those living near the Ringwood hospital site have been thrust in the spotlight this year, most recently with residents petitioning Maroondah Council for increased parking restrictions in neighbouring Morinda Street.
The state government's $22 million expansion of the hospital site will include a new 16-bed intensive care and high dependency unit and a new 22-bed acute transitional care ward.
An existing 30-bed ward will refurbished and a new intensive care and administrative training space will also be provided.
However, speaking at the official launch of the building works last week, neither Health Minister David Davis nor Eastern Health's Zoltan Kokai would confirm whether more on-site parking would be included in the finished development.
Mr Kokai said Eastern Health was "considering our options" for more on-site parking and was "constantly talking with the council" about managing off-street parking.
The hospital now provides for 550 car spaces and staff are encouraged to use a separate section of the multilevel carpark. Many of the streets surrounding the hospital already provide for two-hour parking on one side of the street. Residents say these parking spots are full all day.
The council recently resolved to also implement two-hour parking restrictions and speed humps in Morinda Street.
Mr Davis, who grew up in Croydon, said "a balance needs to be struck with the hospital and the council, in the interests of both residents and patients".
The 38 new beds will add to the state's critical care capacity. The project funding has also allowed Eastern Health to buy a property in nearby Grey Street that will be developed for the hospital's use.