Marilyn’s Pharmacy will operate as an LPO. Photo: Supplied.
The Riverina town of Coleambally is set to have a full-service post office again by late October, bringing an end to months of community anger over the loss of banking, bill payments and other essential services.
Australia Post confirmed on Wednesday (26 August) that Marilyn’s Pharmacy will expand its existing postal operation and take over as a licensed post office (LPO) following a successful expression of interest process.
“In exciting news, a licensed post office (LPO) will be re-established in Coleambally after an extensive review of postal services in the community,” an Australia Post spokesperson said.
“Following a successful expression of interest (EOI) process, Marilyn’s Pharmacy will be expanding their services and operating as an LPO from late October.
“The pharmacy has already demonstrated its commitment to the community, having operated a community postal agency after it stepped in at short notice when the previous LPO closed unexpectedly.”
The announcement marks a significant turnaround after a bitter dispute between residents, Australia Post and politicians over the future of postal services in the town.
Coleambally has had a postal service since 1970, while the most recent LPO had been operated by Ledwidge Pty Ltd from 33-35 Brolga Place since 2014.
Residents were shocked in January when they were told it would cease operating on 6 February.
The reasons for the sudden closure were not publicly explained, while concerns quickly emerged that the town would be left with a much more limited community postal agency rather than a full LPO.
Those fears were realised when Marilyn’s Pharmacy, next door to the former post office, stepped in from 9 February to provide basic postal services.
The pharmacy offered mail sending and receiving, postage assessments, stamps and prepaid satchels, but did not provide the broader services available through an LPO, including banking, BPAY bill payments, parcel tracking and dedicated PO boxes.
For many residents, particularly older people, the change meant travelling to Darlington Point – about 29 km away – to access some of those services. Murrumbidgee Council Mayor Ruth McRae said the lack of public transport and the town’s ageing population made the arrangement particularly difficult.
David Farley (right) and Helen Dalton (with microphone) joined Coleambally residents in protesting the postal downgrade in April this year. Photo: Supplied.
The downgrade quickly became a major local issue.
NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton called for the immediate restoration of a full LPO, while residents raised concerns about the lack of consultation and communication from Australia Post.
The dispute culminated in a rally on 28 April, when about 150 to 200 residents gathered in Coleambally’s main street before work and school to demand the return of full postal services.
The controversy also saw Murrumbidgee Council offer to take up the LPO licence and provide space within its Coleambally office, according to Mayor McRae. She said Australia Post did not provide a genuine response to the proposal.
The issue then spilled into NSW Parliament, with Ms Dalton confronting Australia Post chief executive Paul Graham over the closure and demanding answers about the future of the service.
Following the public pressure, Australia Post announced in June that it would seek expressions of interest for a new LPO operator in Coleambally.
That process has now resulted in Marilyn’s Pharmacy being selected to provide the full service.
“This is proof that when rural communities fight back, we can win,” Mrs Dalton said.
“When you close post offices, you kill off economies in rural towns like Coleambally. Australia Post initially didn’t seem to care, but they appear to have changed their tune.
“It was a disgrace when this closure happened with no community consultation.”
The pharmacy had already been credited by Australia Post with stepping in at short notice to ensure the town retained basic postal services after the previous LPO closed.
“Preparations are underway to transition Marilyn’s Pharmacy to a full-service post office, providing customers with access to a broad range of postal services, including Bank@Post and Billpay transactions,” the Australia Post spokesperson said.
“We thank all applicants who expressed interest in supporting postal services in Coleambally and look forward to keeping the community updated on when Marilyn’s Pharmacy will begin providing full postal and banking services.”
