Survey ‘flawed’

By Kelly Yates
A SURVEY by Australia Post to determine the need for a post office at Parkhill Plaza in Berwick has been dubbed as “flawed.”
Michelle Frazer, the Liberal candidate for Narre Warren North, said she was disappointed after hearing that Australia Post staff members were asking customers if they lived in the Timbarra estate and if they didn’t, they were being marked as having no interest in the post office being set up.
Ms Frazer said the survey would not reflect the true need within the community.
“The survey methodology being used by Australia Post limits the results to a very small sample of customers and is likely to lead to a claim that there is not sufficient need for a post office at Parkhill Plaza,” she said.
“Just because people don’t live within walking distance of Parkhill Plaza doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like the convenience of a post office there. And there’s a lot of people who work in the area who would benefit too.”
Berwick resident Wendy Shiell is supporting the push for a post office at Parkhill Plaza.
“I went into the Fountain Gate post office to pay some bills and they asked me if I lived in the Parkhill or Timbarra estate,” she said.
“When I answered no, they put a cross on a piece of paper. I asked what it was for and she mentioned the survey for the post office.
“I said to change my answer to a yes. Just because I don’t live in the estate, doesn’t mean I don’t want the post office there.”
Australia Post is currently reviewing the possibility of having a post office in the shopping complex after a petition with 1577 signatures calling for one was presented to them by Ms Frazer back in August.
There are currently five post offices within a 5km radius of Parkhill Plaza.
An Australia Post spokeswoman said they were conducting surveys at Berwick Post Office and Fountain Gate Post Office to find out where customers lived and worked.
“This will help us to determine the best options for postal services into the future,” she said.
“There are a number of factors we need to take into consideration in this process, such as current post office locations and existing customer numbers, and we hope to provide a decision before the end of the year.”
Regularly long queues at the post office in Berwick can be explained by the area’s 34,000 residents having just one Australia Post outlet at their disposal.
Compare that to an inner suburb like Hawthorn, which has four post offices for its 36,000 residents. The 27,000 people living in Richmond can choose between five post office locations.
Large country locations like Ballaratand Bendigo are also well served. Ballarat can boast 11 post offices for its 88,000 residents.