Hundreds of people have signed a petition to keep Red Hill Post Office open.
CD understands the current licensee/s took part in a handback program through Australia Post (AusPost) due to the business no longer being financially viable.
A note posted to the wall of the shop states Red Hill Licensed Post Office (LPO) will permanently close at 5pm on Friday 20 December 2024.
It further suggests alternative post office locations in Manuka, Garran and Kingston for use following the closure.
Residents and business owners are fighting back with a paper petition to keep it open.
Member for Canberra Alicia Payne MP said more than 250 people had signed the petition.
She told CD several constituents approached her regarding the closure.
“It’s a really integral part of our local shops. The fact you’ve got the post boxes here, and if people lose access to those and have to move them, they have to go to other centres which are not as convenient,” Ms Payne said.
She wrote a letter to AusPost group chief executive officer and managing director Paul Graham, on 15 November, which CD has viewed.
She spoke of the six alternative outlets AusPost had recommended. Also stating that constituents had contacted her.
“Their concerns include the apparent lack of community consultation from AusPost and the significant number of aged persons in the area who are unable to travel to other locations. Notably, the residents at BaptistCare Yarra Rossa Retirement Village,” Ms Payne said.
“Also, the impact the closure of the LPO will have on other local businesses.
“They (the constituents) are keen to know if the LPO could remain open under any circumstances.”
The other shops on La Perouse Street are a pharmacy, supermarket, café, butcher and pizza shop.
A week later, Ms Payne received a response from AusPost, which CD has viewed.
“As you are aware, the Red Hill LPO will close on the 20th of December 2024 after the licensees decided to participate in Australia Post’s Voluntary License Handback Program (VLHP),” the letter said.
“In some metropolitan areas with an over-saturation of post offices, AusPost has invited a small number of licensees to consider handing back their license under the VLHP.
“The program is only available to select LPOs who meet strict criteria including proximity to surrounding post offices and their geographical area.”
Additional alternative LPOs recommended in the letter were Griffith, Deakin and Parliament House.
Red Hill Butcher Shop owner Tony Pyke told CD there were two major groups of people impacted by the closure: the elderly and aged care people in the area, and the flow-on effects to the surrounding businesses.
“There are 150 post boxes out there, times that on average, at a minimum, two visits per post box per week to check their mail, so it’s 300 visits to the shops we’re not going to get,” Mr Pyke said.
Resident Di Evans said she chose to live in that area because of the easy access to the shops.
“That’s why I chose it, because I thought I want to stay here for the rest of my life. I have all the shops and the post office,” she said.
Another resident, Rob Gorman, has a sentimental connection to the post office. His grandfather had PO Box 1 when he ran Red Hil Real Estate.
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