Residents lose post war but win battle to keep PO boxes

The Turramurra post office in Sydney looks likely to close but mail boxes will be kept at the current location or nearby, it was announced by Australia Post to the 300-plus crowd protesting the proposed closure this week.

The larger than expected crowd met at the Turramurra Seniors Centre to protest the closure and the lack of consultation by Australia Post.

The meeting was attended by Australia Post, executive general manager, (retail services), Christine Corbertt, NSW opposition leader, Barry O’Farrell and federal member for Bradfield, Paul Fletcher, (pictured) with residents and business owners which filled the hall to capacity and spilled out into the street. A petition, opposing the closure, signed by 1600 people was presented at the meeting.

Fletcher said that Australia Post’s plans to shut the Turramurra Post Office are unacceptable to the community.  “In particular, moving the post boxes to Wahroonga is unacceptable, as is the removal of any means by which bills can be paid via Australia Post in Turramurrahe,” he said in a statement.

Australia Post’s representative, Corbertt told the community meeting that similar to Woollahra Post Office, the service was losing money and unviable to keep open, but agreed to seek to keep the post office boxes in a location in Turramurra rather than moving them to another suburb. An Express Post box will be made available next to the current red box.

Australia Post are presently conducting urgent commercial discussions with several Turramurra businesses and landlords in an effort to maintain a retail presence in the area. “I want to see Australia Post make – and deliver upon – substantive commitments for continuity of the services that residents require,” Fletcher said.

Australia Post promises to deliver for Woollahra

According to Australia Post chairman, David Mortimer, despite their best efforts Woollahra Post Office (pictured) was declining in customer numbers and revenue. “Specifically, over the past three years the outlet has achieved losses of $400,000 and is projected to lose a further $160,000 this financial year,” he said.

“In the case of Woollahra the 1,100 post office boxes will be retained at the existing location. I have also asked my executive to explore the opportunity of establishing a licensed office in the area. The existing double red and gold street post boxes will remain near the current Woollahra site.”

An Australia Post spokesperson said that many people don’t realise that Australia Post doesn’t receive any funding from Government, and if it is to continue being a self-funded business that is not a burden on tax payers, it must engage in sound commercial practice, including branching out into new business ventures. 

“We understand that people are turning to electronic forms of communication and therefore we need to evolve to meet these changing demands to ensure we remain a viable service for all Australians,” the Australia Post spokesperson said.

Greens MP, David Shoebridge said that with the rise of the internet, there is an even greater need to have post offices at the centre of local communities. “Many residents, particularly in places like Turramurra and Woollahra, rely on their post office as a place to pay their bills, collect their parcels and interact with all levels of government. The obvious example is getting your passport,” he said.

“Having public services in the buildings originally built for that purpose adds to the heritage value of the area. Post offices can be profitable. The reason they aren’t in NSW is that the government sold the buildings off and this forced Australia Post to pay commercial rents.”