A new $23.3 million multi-storey car park will be built as part of Shellharbour Hospital's redevelopment if the Coalition remains in power after the state election.
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Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward made the announcement on Thursday, saying the new facility would contain more than 300 parking spots and would benefit patients, visitors and staff.
The NSW Government has already committed $251 million for the hospital's redevelopment - an amount NSW Labor has pledged to match.
Early work has started on the redevelopment with construction set to start mid year, and the project to be complete in 2021.
It's not clear whether the car park will be managed by a private operator - like at Wollongong Hospital - or whether fees will be introduced.
"Having to go to hospital can be a stressful experience and the last thing you want to worry about is finding a parking spot," Mr Ward said.
"With over 300 new parking spots, visiting or working at the hospital will be made a little easier."
Mr Ward said more details on the car park would be made available shortly with construction due to begin in the 2019-20 financial year, and the facility expected to open in 2022.
The Coalition government has not committed to the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association call for a more transparent nurse-to-patient ratios system in hospitals - something which NSW Labor has promised to introduce.
However Mr Ward said his government was committed to boosting staff in the Illawarra.
"Over the next four years, there will be at least 440 new staff, including 52 doctors, 272 nurses and midwives, 53 allied health staff and 63 hospital support workers across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District," he said.
Shellharbour nurse Nadia Rodriguez, a NSW Nurses and Midwives Association member, said while the car park announcement was welcome, staff wanted a firm commitment from the government on ratios.
She said nurses and midwives from across the Illawarra would be holding a Rally for Ratios in Wollongong's MacCabe Park on Tuesday, March 12, at midday.
"A bigger hospital, a bigger car park is great but this government has not committed to implementing the staff that are required," Ms Rodriguez said.
"We need shift-by-shift established ratios to allow us to provide adequate care for our patients - and that's the message we'll be taking to the community at next week's rally."
