Australia Post halts parcel picks up from Melbourne businesses after ‘record volumes’

Mounting pressure and ‘record volumes’ of packages only experienced at Christmas time has triggered Australia Post to pause some parcel pick ups.

Parcel pick ups from businesses in Greater Metropolitan Melbourne will be halted for five days as Australia Post works through volumes of packages usually only experienced at Christmas time.

The postal giant announced the temporary pause on collections and business lodgements for eCommerce retailers was to clear the “record volumes” of parcels at centres due to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.

There are close to 200 Australia Post staff in Melbourne that are isolating, adding to the mounting pressure on the network.

Australia Post will temporarily pause pick-ups, collections and business lodgements for eCommerce retailers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

In a statement, the company apologised for any inconvenience and assured customers the suspension would only last for the five days from 12.01am on Friday, October 1 to 12.01am on Wednesday, October 6.

The halt on standard Parcel Post and eParcel services will not apply to those outside of the Greater Melbourne area.

Its Express Post, Startrack Premium, Startrack Courier, Startrack Express and letters services will remain unchanged across the network.

The pause won’t impact collections from street posting boxes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

According to Australia Post, the network continues to operate under “increased pressure” with Victorian parcel volumes at Christmas levels.

“The temporary pause will help manage the record volumes being experienced in the network and importantly return them to a level that is safe and manageable for our people,” it said in a statement.

“The safety of our people is our highest priority, one which we will not compromise on.”

Post offices will operate and deliveries will be made as usual, with collections from street posting boxes also continuing.