Stamp of approval: Post office confirmed for Armstrong Creek

GOOD news is in the mail for Armstrong Creek, with the growth area to get its own post office in four months’ time

Armstrong Creek has a population of more than 15,000 and rising, and there have been calls from the community for a dedicated post office since at least November last year, when Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker launched a petition and suggested the Armstrong Creek Town Centre as the most readily available spot to put a branch.

Australia Post announced this week that the Australia Post Licensed Post Office (LPO) would officially open at the south entrance of the Armstrong Creek Town Centre in July.

Along with a full range of postal services, including mail and parcel services, identity services, and over the counter financial services, including Bank@Post, the new post office will also feature:

• Three customer service terminals, providing customers the ability to quickly and conveniently get access to a range of Australia Post products and services
• Parcel collection and drop off access points, and
• PO Box services including POB Plus.

Australia Post’s Victorian general manager of its post office network, Roger Revere, said the new LPO was a great example of how the organisation was adapting to serve its customers.

“We know online shopping in Australia continues to grow, and in the Geelong region this grew an amazing 38 per cent in December last year compared to the previous year,” Mr Revere said.

“The Armstrong Creek LPO will cater for the changing consumer needs in this area and provide shoppers with access to postal services six days a week.

“In a new modern environment, it will make it easier and more convenient for local customers to access postal services.”

Ms Coker thanked the community for coming together and using their voices to influence change.

“For too long this community has been serviced by just one post box,” she said.

“This is a wonderful resolution.

“No longer will the residents of Armstrong Creek be forced to wait in long lines at Grovedale and Waurn Ponds to collect their mail.

“This decision is proof of what is possible when we work together. We get outcomes.”

More than 1,700 residents signed Ms Coker’s petition last year.

In a speech in Parliament on Monday, Ms Coker said the community felt vindicated.

“We have stood firm and robustly demanded a post office for the rapidly growing community of Armstrong Creek,” she said. “I want to thank and congratulate the people of this amazing community – this is democracy at work!”

Wel.Co founder and managing director Andrew Welsh said the Armstrong Creek Town Centre was a space designed with the community and visitors in mind.

“Wel.Co is proud to be the owner, developer and management company behind Armstrong Creek Town Centre and we are delighted to be welcoming Australia Post to Stage One of the development,” he said.

“Australia Post is joining a host of other essential retailers such as Coles Supermarkets, Terry White Chemist, Bakers Delight and a total of more than 20 other specialty retailers, services and food outlets.

“We have been in discussions with both the Armstrong Creek community and Australia Post for some time as it was identified quite early on that an Australia Post retail store was a top priority for the area.

“It is fantastic that Australia Post has recognised this need and has agreed to locate an Australia Post outlet in Armstrong Creek Town Centre.”

The Armstrong Creek LPO will be open from Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm, and from 9am-noon on Saturdays. An exact opening date will be determined closer to July.