By Laura Michell
Mernda and Doreen residents will no longer be waiting four days for their express post to be delivered, with Australia Post adding the suburbs to their next day delivery service.
Until now, the express post service – which provides next day delivery – was available in almost every other suburb in the Whittlesea local government area, including Whittlesea.
McEwen MP Rob Mitchell raised Mernda and Doreen’s exclusion from the express post network in Parliament last month after being contacted by a number of residents who were frustrated by the postal delays.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Mitchell said it was “ridiculous” that Australia Post could not provide a next day delivery service to Mernda and Doreen.
“Quite frankly it is ridiculous that suburbs like Mernda and Doreen do not receive next day parcels and our community are waiting approximately four days for parcels that have been posted,” he said.
“I’m not talking about rural regions here …Mernda and Doreen [are] 27 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. These are well-established suburbs neglected by Australia Post failing to meet the needs of our community.”
Australia Post conducted a review of its express post network following Mr Mitchell’s speech and agreed to add Mernda and Doreen to the network.
In a letter to Mr Mitchell, seen by Star Weekly, Australia Post’s head of regulatory affairs, David Jancik said the review had found Mernda and Doreen could support next business day delivery.
“Australia Post understands that community needs can change over time, and Mernda is a prime example of how growth can change a small country area into a major suburb,” he said. “With growth such as this, Australia Post also recognises the need to respond in kind with provision of additional service and accessibility.”
