THE City of Stirling is backing a campaign to save Innaloo’s post office from closure, while Australia Post has scotched rumours that Inglewood might be next on the chopping block.
Councillor Elizabeth Re told this week’s council meeting residents had contacted her about possible post office closures.
“There’s an issue in Inglewood. Something’s going down. North Beach is gone. Wembley Downs is gone. Innaloo looks like it won’t go down if we keep fighting, on Friday,” she told the meeting.
The immediate battle is over the Innaloo Post Shop at Westfield Innaloo, which Australia Post has confirmed was due to close yesterday (Friday, October 23).
Cr Re has collected about 1000 signatures on a petition calling on Federal Parliament to halt the closure and retain a fully operational, accessible branch within the shopping centre.
It argues alternatives could see residents walking more than two kilometres, disadvantaging older people, aged-care residents and people with limited mobility.
It also criticises the 12-day consultation period conducted by Australia Post in July and August, and argues the assessment failed to account for roadworks restricting access to the Innaloo shopping precinct and projected population growth of 30,000 residents in the Stirling City Centre area.
“I think it’s going to affect all of us,” Cr Re told the meeting.
Australia Post said the Innaloo outlet had been losing money for several years as customers increasingly shifted to online transactions and fewer people used over-the-counter services.
The company said eight post offices would continue to serve the Innaloo area within five kilometres, including the Innaloo Licensed Post Office at Morris Place and Woodlands.
It has installed free parcel lockers with 24-hour access at Westfield Innaloo, and PO Boxes will remain at the shopping centre.
The short notice about Innaloo’s closure seems to have caught Stirling on the hop, with mayor Mark Irwin writing to Australia Post and Federal ministers before the issue had been considered by councillors to avoid acting after the horse had bolted. His letters sought further information about the closure and whether options to retain an accessible postal service at Westfield had been explored.
by STEVE GRANT