Huntly resident petitions Australia Post to start street mail deliveries

It has led one resident to start a petition to bring home delivery services to all of Huntly.

Brady Stone and his partner moved into their newly built home a month ago.

Prior to the move people told him there was no mail delivery service but he did not believe them.

“It didn’t sound as if it would be true. This is such a big housing estate. There’s new buildings going up here all the time, so you’d think they’d already have a proper postal service,” Mr Stone said.

While online data from the 2016 census data was yet to be finalised, the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the population to be 1870, up from 1557 in 2011.

The suburb’s population was set to grow further as multiple housing developments progressed.

PRD Nationwide managing director Tom Isaacs said at Viewpoint alone approximately 300 houses were now occupied and a further 500 were set to follow.

Mr Issacs said many of those moving into the estate wanted to know about how mail would be delivered.

“It’s very much a family community out there. I have had lots of conversations with people about the postal service,” he said.

Mr Stone said without deliveries to houses residents had to make do with trips to the post office on the Midland Highway.

An Australia Post spokesperson confirmed mail was currently delivered to the community through the local post office, with residents collecting it over the counter or via reduced rate post office boxes.

“We recognise that there is growth in the Huntly community and we continue to monitor the area with a view to enhancing delivery services once it meets our requirements,” he said.

The spokesman said there were a number of factors Australia Post used to determine whether street mail delivery was viable. 

They included the number of delivery points, the volume of mail and employee safety.

“As new estates are construction zones, there are a number of risks that impede the safe delivery of mail such as trucks frequently entering/exiting the area, dirt and debris,” the spokesman said.

The Huntly Home Postal Delivery Service petition can be viewed and signed here.