David Littleproud
November 30, 2017
Cooyar residents will be able to get mail delivered to their homes after the town’s postal agency closes this Friday … but only if they have a letterbox.
Maranoa MP David Littleproud said he has tried to ensure measures are put in place for Cooyar residents to receive their mail in the town area following closure of Cooyar’s Community Postal Agent (CPA) this Friday, December 1.
Mr Littleproud said he had written to Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate to seek answers about Australia Post’s plans for a replacement service for the Cooyar community after becoming aware of the CPA’s closure.
“Last week I was extremely disheartened to learn Cooyar residents were going to lose an essential service that’s been operating in their community since 1907,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I had residents approaching me because they were in the dark about the changes – that’s why I wrote to the CEO and sought advice from Australia Post about what will happen now.”
Mr Littleproud said he has since been informed by Australia Post it had exhausted all efforts to locate a new CPA in Cooyar, without success.
From Friday, December 1 Australia Post will commence roadside delivery, three days per week to the 51 homes in Cooyar’s town area.
However, residents must first install a letterbox or they will need to travel 33km to Yarraman to collect their mail.
“I’m pleased we’ve been able to ensure there is a plan for residents, particularly this close to Christmas,” Mr Littleproud said.
“If residents require any further information or have any concerns – or haven’t yet received the notice from Australia Post about the changes – I would encourage them to contact me on (07) 4662-2715.”
Australia Post advised residents by mail on November 27 that:
- For residents wanting to receive roadside delivery, they must install a letterbox as soon as possible. Further information about the type of letterbox to install and where this should be located on a property is available from Bill Everts at the Australia Post Toowoomba Delivery Centre on (07) 4699-4569. Australia Post’s delivery team will also be in town this week to talk to residents about letterbox installation.
- Until a letterbox is installed, mail will be available for collection over the counter at the Yarraman Post Office at 19 Toomey Street between 9:00am and 5:00pm Mondays to Fridays.
- For residents with a PO Box at the Cooyar CPA, Australia Post will offer a free 6-month mail redirection to a residential address or an alternate address of choice. If Cooyar residents would like to continue with a PO Box service, they should lease a new PO Box at Yarraman Post Office. To arrange a mail redirection or to lease a new PO Box, Cooyar residents should visit the Yarraman Post Office.
- For parcel deliveries, if residents are not at home when the mail contractor arrives to deliver the parcel, it will be available for collection at Yarraman Post Office.
- Related article: Cooyar Post Office To Close
Australia Post just doesn’t get it, do they? In their ivory towers they haven’t a clue about living in a small country community. Which of AP’s bigwigs would travel a round trip of 66km to collect their mail…. or 66 km to collect a parcel if you’re unlucky enough to be absent when AP choose to deliver it. This is a band-aid solution at best. Cooyar residents deserve much better, and I trust they can apply lots more pressure where it matters in order to achieve a sensible result.
Did you put your hand up to take on the postal agency Disgusted ? It’s not so hard to believe that in such a small town there was no one suitable or willing to take it on. Although it’s not perfect, at least the residents of Cooyar will still get their mail delivered. It’s an unfortunate truth that sometimes living in small communities you can’t have all the services that larger towns have. You can’t have your cake and eat it too!