Australia Post announced on 29 October that Milsons Point post office would remain open. The branch was due to close its doors on 12 November, due to landowner Transport for NSW increasing the rent on the property.
The closure would have left about 400 Greenway social housing residents without essential banking and postal services, along with residents of the James Milson Retirement Village on Clark Road.
Bryce Gunn, president of Greenway Tenants Group, said on ABC 702 on 30 October that the news was ‘fantastic.’ “It’s a win-win situation for everybody,” Mr Gunn said.
Local businesswoman Venietta Slama, whose petition amassed over 3,000 signatures, said it was a ‘sensational outcome.’
Ms Slama and Mr Gunn met with shadow minister for productivity and deregulation, Senator Andrew Bragg, in early October and asked for his help.
“We provided him a question on notice in Parliament which he presented,” said Ms Slama. “He then personally met with the CEO of Australia Post (Paul Graham) to go through the business model and expenses and find a way to save the post office.”
Two days before Australia Post’s change of heart, they had told Mr Gunn that they were considering installing coin and card-operated vending machines that dispensed stamps and envelopes at the community centre.
Senator Bragg said on 2GB on 30 October that Mr Graham ‘was a good guy’.
“He’s made the right call here,” said Senator Bragg. “He visited the site himself and walked around and saw that the topography there wasn’t going to be suitable for people who are elderly and have disabilities in some cases. I think they have made the only decision they probably could make, but it wouldn’t have happened without all the community groundswell.”
Warringah Independent MP Zali Steggall and North Shore MP Felicity Wilson also welcomed the news that the post office would remain open.
“I’d like to congratulate the local community and all those who fought passionately for this outcome,” Ms Steggall said. “Thank you for making your voices heard – and thank you to Australia Post and Transport for NSW for listening.”
“This has been a mammoth effort,” said Ms Wilson. “I’m glad that Transport for NSW listened to our pleas to offer lease terms that would keep the post office here for our community.”