Tara Murray
Some Fraser Rise residents are being forced to drive about 13 kilometres to pick up their mail because there is no mail delivery service in their area.
A number of residents, including those in the Westwood and Sienna North estates, took to a local Facebook group recently complaining that their mail is being delivered to Melton post office and not the nearby Caroline Springs post office.
One resident Sally, who didn’t want her last name printed, said the whole thing was beyond a joke.
After speaking to Star Weekly, Australia Post contacted Sally telling her that her mail was likely to start arriving last week.
“Redirection has been a nightmare and they take my mail to Melton instead of Caroline Springs. They don’t even let me know if there’s mail there.
“It’s a joke and I’m not sure why I had to spend $300 on a new letterbox when we can’t get mail.”
Sally said that she spent an hour at the Melton post office recently trying to set up a PO Box but was told that it had to be approved.
Her mail redirection from her previous address has also been stopped.
Another resident, Kaleb Dovale, said he wasn’t told that his mail wouldn’t be delivered when he moved in.
He said it was only after complaining about some issues about parcel delivery, that “a whole lot of letters” were dropped at his house.
“I had a lot of fines and official notices,” he said. “It caused me a lot of trouble.”
Other residents have complained to Australia Post on a number of occasions. One resident said they were told that mail was being returned to senders.
An Australia Post spokesperson said some areas of Fraser Rise were not getting delivery because of safety concerns.
“In Fraser Rise, over 4000 households and delivery points are receiving a street mail delivery service, with 530 of these commencing as recently as March 1,” the spokesperson said.
“While there is ongoing construction in parts of Fraser Rise, some areas are not safe for our people to deliver at the moment.
“Safety is our number one priority at Australia Post and once these areas are safe, delivery will start in these parts of Fraser Rise as well.”
The spokesperson said any mail that can’t be available for collection at Melton post office and any carded items will go to Caroline Springs post office.
Residents who are not receiving street delivery can also access a PO Box at Melton post office for a reduced rate.
