{"id":195713,"date":"2017-11-17T14:16:28","date_gmt":"2017-11-17T04:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=195713"},"modified":"2020-08-11T11:29:06","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T01:29:06","slug":"blackbutt-to-get-new-postcode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/11\/17\/blackbutt-to-get-new-postcode\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackbutt To Get New Postcode"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FLASHBACK: Member for Maranoa David Littleproud, Blackbutt postmaster Emeric Charles and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington at a public meeting outside Blackbutt Post Office in July this year that was called to ask Australia Post to change the area’s postcode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The former 4306 postcode area … the upper portion will become 4314 from February 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 17, 2017 <\/strong><\/p>\n

A decade-long fight to get Blackbutt its own postcode paid off on Friday when Australia Post agreed to split the old 4306 postcode area in half.<\/p>\n

The decision came after months of agitation by Member for Maranoa David Littleproud, who called on Australia Post to recognise that the South Burnett and Ipswich \u2013 130km away \u2013 have nothing in common.<\/p>\n

“In a postcode quirk, the Blackbutt region shared the same 4306 postcode as Ipswich, a city on the fringe of Brisbane,\u201d Mr Littleproud said.<\/p>\n

“This resulted in detrimental outcomes for this rural area, but today we\u2019ve secured a new four-digit identity for this South Burnett region.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ve had many discussions with Australia Post on this issue and today they\u2019ve advised me they will change the Blackbutt area\u2019s postcode from 4306 to 4314.<\/p>\n

“When I was elected in September last year, one of the first phone calls I received as the new Maranoa MP was from Blackbutt residents who\u2019d been campaigning for years for a new postcode, and today I\u2019m proud to deliver them a win.”<\/p>\n

Mr Littleproud said he’d been advised Australia Post will notify residents of the postcode change before the year is out, and will give the community will have ample time to prepare.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The new 4314 postcode will be effective from February 1, 2018.<\/p>\n

However, Australia Post will continue to recognise and deliver mail addressed to 4306 until June 30, 2019.<\/p>\n

Rural Blackbutt and metropolitan Ipswich are two separate localities but have been sharing the same 4306 postcode, along with about 56 other areas.<\/p>\n

This postcode resulted in a wide range of negative outcomes for the Blackbutt residents, ranging from higher insurance premiums to difficulties in attracting casual backpacker labour.<\/p>\n

“For Australia Post, the issue is all about mail delivery efficiency and I\u2019m glad we\u2019ve persuaded them to finally give this South Burnett gem a new mailing identity,” Mr Littleproud said.<\/p>\n

Fact Box:<\/strong><\/p>\n