Australia Post North Geelong Business Centre set to close in January 2025
The decision to close North Geelong Business Centre has drawn the ire of local business owners who rely on the service to send products to customers.
Geelong
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A local businessman has accused Australia Post of committing a “Grinch act” this festive season after it announced the closure of a major distribution hub.
The North Geelong Business Centre, located at 328 Melbourne Rd, will close on January 24.
Rabbas Radiators and Batteries owner Glen Rabbas, who also runs an eBay business, said the closure will be a logistical nightmare for himself and others.
“I put 10,000 packages through postage (a year) and I’m a small fish — the Coffee Cartel guys put through a vanload every day,” he said.
“Now, I’ve got to look at alternative ways to send them, or leave earlier in the day to queue with commercial quantities.”
Mr Rabbas said he doubted the cluster of smaller retail post offices could handle the volume that went through the North Geelong site.
“They have Christmas cakes and cards … How are they going to handle these vanloads of parcels?”
A spokeswoman from Australia Post said it was a “difficult decision” to close the site but ultimately a practical one.
“Australia Post carefully assesses its network and the closure will support the financial sustainability of surrounding Post Offices,” she said.
“The area is well-serviced, with 14 post offices within a 5km radius, including the Geelong North, Norlane and Rippleside post offices, as well as Geelong Business Centre.”
The Geelong Business Centre, at 108 Gheringap St, is more than 5km away and shuts at 5pm.
Mr Rabbas said the North Geelong facility being open until 6pm gave him time to mail parcels after closing his store.
Despite the closure, there will be no job losses, with all employees offered roles at surrounding outlets.
All PO boxes, parcel lockers, and parcel hatches at the North Geelong Business Centre will remain at the site, with no changes to these services after the site closes.
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Originally published as Australia Post North Geelong Business Centre set to close in January 2025
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