Eaton residents boxing on

Disgruntled Eaton residents have reignited the campaign for a fully licensed Australia Post office to be built at Eaton Fair, uniting with the centre developers Citygate to distribute more than 5000 campaign flyers.

Three years ago Forrest MHR Nola Marino presented a petition to Parliament with more than 4600 signatures asking for the post office.

“Australia Post makes autonomous decisions and it decided to not allow a second post office in Eaton because of the existing commercial licence already in the town, ” Mrs Marino said.

Citygate director Geoff Prosser said he was shocked Australia Post would not allow another post office when Western Australia Planning Commission statistics indicated the population in the catchment area would grow to nearly 70,000 by 2026.

“There is staggering growth in this area and for Coles and Woolworths to be making an investment in the shopping centre, the growth potential must be substantial, ” Mr Prosser said.

Resident Bethanie Fields and former Olympian Val Melville said community members had rallied to the cause again and were frustrated their questions were being handballed between Australia Post and Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office.

“We don’t know what to do to get past the red tape, ” Mrs Melville said.

“In this area we have a college, a baby care centre, two primary schools, sporting facilities and three aged care facilities – how are people meant to get down to the Collie River post office to pay all their bills and take care of their business.”

“We don’t know what to do to get past the red tape” — Val Melville