The long-time operators of a hinterland post office outlet are stepping down, but Australia Post is hopeful of maintaining postal services in the town.
A sign in the window of the Mapleton Licensed Post Office says it is scheduled to cease operating at 5pm on Monday, February 9.
The outlet has been operated by David and Elizabeth Buckley for the past 18 years but it is understood they are unable to continue due to health issues.
An Australia Post spokesperson said the government-owned corporation was working closely with a local business to maintain postal services in the town.
“Australia Post would like to express our sincere gratitude to Elizabeth and David for their dedicated service to the community over nearly two decades,” they said.
“We will keep the community updated around our efforts to establish a new post office in town.”
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There is no street delivery service in Mapleton, with mail instead sent to PO boxes at the local post office, which also serves residents in Flaxton, Kureelpa and Dulong.
The sign in the window also says efforts are being made to continue the town’s postal services.
“Australia Post is investigating options for the provision of postal services in Mapleton within the community,” it states.
“We will continue to keep residents updated as things progress and will communicate any necessary changes to mail delivery arrangements.”
Ian Stannard from the Mapleton and District Community Association (MADCA) paid tribute to the community contribution of the Buckleys and said his organisation would be advocating for the full retention of postal services.
“The immediate community response has been an outpouring of appreciation for Elizabeth, David and the Buckley family, acknowledging their outstanding, personalised service over 18 years, seeing them as integral to the Mapleton village,” he said.
“MADCA is one of the many organisations and businesses that utilise and appreciate what Elizabeth and David have provided over so many years. We will be doing what we can to support them should they need any assistance.”
He said community members had reached out to Australia Post to determine what its future service model for the town would be.
“MADCA’s advocacy will be centred on the continuity of all services, particularly the essential key banking facilities provided through Bank@Post,” he said.
“This is framed as a crucial necessity for the Range’s community profile, given the older demographic and the significant challenge posed by limited public transportation for those who would otherwise have to travel long distances for banking and essential postal services.
“MADCA’s starting point consultation with Australia Post will be for the maintenance of all current services as the desired and necessary outcome. We will be open to ideas that will ensure the future sustainability of local services.”
Mr Stannard said that once MADCA had verified information available from Australia Post, it would be communicated to the community.
“MADCA is prepared to directly advocate once Australia Post provides more information, allowing the community to be better informed and in a position to impart to Australia Post the importance of full service maintenance,” he said.
A Mapleton resident who asked to remain anonymous provided Sunshine Coast News with a copy of a letter she sent to Australia Post about the situation.
“This decision has come as a shock to the local community, particularly because no formal written notice was provided to each of the individual PO box holders (stakeholders),” she wrote.
“Many residents, including those without internet access, only learned of the closure by word of mouth – we were advised that there was a notice on the community Facebook page, which we do not have. I ask that Australia Post review whether correct and reasonable notification procedures were followed.
“Many years ago, the Mapleton community held a formal vote regarding postal service options, choosing between mail delivered to individual letterboxes or using PO boxes at the local post office. The outcome was that the community did not adopt home delivery and the residents purchased PO boxes, essentially supporting the services provided by the Mapleton LPO.
“It is therefore particularly upsetting that the closure has been announced with only two months’ notice, leaving the community with very little time to make alternative arrangements.
“I am deeply concerned about the impact of this closure on the community. Many elderly and mobility-limited residents in Mapleton rely heavily on our local post office for essential services. These include accessing mail, withdrawing cash, lodging important documents, sending parcels, paying bills and receiving ID cards, Medicare cards, bank cards, registrations, and rate notices, all of which are typically delivered by post.”
