Australia Post back up and running with Queensland mail
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Australia Post is back up and running in Queensland, with the mail now getting through via road, air and sea to almost the entire state.
Managing Director and CEO Ahmed Fahour said "We are back to almost 100 percent in Queensland thanks to the hard work of all the posties, truck drivers and retail staff in Queensland."
"Amazingly since the floods began we have delivered 32 million items into Queensland and we are now delivering 2.6 million items every day across the state. During the worst of the floods we were still delivering 1.6 million items each day which is testament to the commitment of our people."
With a number of major arterial roads now open, mail is now flowing in and out of Queensland, as well as from point-to-point within Queensland. Australia Post is having some difficulties getting mail into small parts of the Toowoomba region due to infrastructure issues.
"Australia Post staff have done an outstanding job getting the mail through in all sorts of conditions. Many of them have had their own lives heavily impacted by this flood, yet they have been working round the clock to get the mail through," said Mr Fahour.
Mr Fahour said Australia Post had gone to great lengths to find alternate ways to get the mail through including chartering a ship to get parcels through to Townsville to get around road closures and a shortage of aircraft.
Australia Post is pleased to confirm that almost all the post offices closed due to the floods have now reopened; however, one of the two Australia Post national customer contact centres, based in Coronation Drive, Brisbane, remains closed which means that calls to the customer feedback line are unfortunately experiencing some delays. It is expected to reopen today.
Mr Fahour said Australia Post's focus was now on North West Victoria and the floods there with many rivers yet to peak.
"Just as in Queensland, we are putting enormous effort into maintaining services in Victoria. In cases where we can't get mail through we are holding that mail to keep it safe," said Mr Fahour.
For customers in Victoria who have urgent mail that is being held due to the floods, please contact 13 POST (13 7678).
In cases where flood damage to properties prevents mail from being delivered, Australia Post is offering free mail redirection.
Australia Post retail outlets nationwide continue to accept donations to the Queensland Premier's Flood Relief Appeal.