Orchids or no orchids, Calvary Hospital patients and staff have shown strong support for more car parking at the Bruce hospital.
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Labor Assembly candidate for Ginninderra Glen McCrea has received more than 1200 signatures on a petition calling for more parking at Calvary.
The Canberra Times reported last month an amendment to the Territory Plan has been proposed to enable Calvary to turn a narrow strip of territory land on the hospital site currently used as ''informal'' parking into a 110-space car park.
Planning documents show the project would require the removal of several trees and could also lead to the destruction of rare native orchids.
But the Conservator of Flora and Fauna said the project could be supported provided the new boundary was fenced to protect the adjoining forest that had high conservation values.
Mr McCrea said Belconnen residents, including hospital staff, had told him Calvary urgently needed more parking.
''I believe this proposal for more car parks at Calvary will make a difference as I personally experienced difficulties finding a spot,'' he said.
''I also heard an anecdote from a nurse who changed her shifts from lunchtime to the morning so that she could get a spot.''
Mr McCrea said he was passionate about the issue because 5½ years ago his twin daughters had spent six weeks in the hospital after being born prematurely.
''The last thing you need at a time like that is to worry about car parking,'' he said.
Mr McCrea has sent his petition to the ACT Planning and Land Authority. The forthcoming ACT budget will probably include funds for a multi-storey car park at Calvary.
But the parking situation at the hospital could become worse in the short-term as the multi-storey facility was constructed on top of an existing ground-level car park.
Canberra Hospital visitors and staff experienced major parking difficulties while a new multi-storey car park was being constructed at the Woden hospital.
For several months, many were forced to park off-site and walk or use a shuttle bus service to access the hospital.
Nine species of orchids have been identified in the forest next to the Calvary hospital.