A community rally will be held in Colambally next week demanding that Australia Post reinstate a fully operational Licensed Post Office in the community.

The rally has been called by NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton, who has taken up the fight on behalf of the community.

It will be held in the Coly CBD, from 8am on Tuesday, April 28.

Mrs Dalton said the timing allows for people to attend before work and school to show support in numbers, with the rally expected to last about half an hour.

Coleambally residents have been raising concerns ever since Australia Post’s decision to downgrade the town’s Licensed Post Office (LPO) to a Community Postal Agency (CPA) in January this year.

The CPA has been running out of Marilyn’s Pharmacy since February 9.

The Coly community initially asked former Federal Member for Farrer to intervene and lobby on their behalf for the decision to be overturned.

But in the days that followed, she resigned and retired from politics after she lost a challenge for the Opposition leadership.

“The pharmacy stepped in because the community needed someone to, and they have done a good job, but a stopgap was never meant to be the answer for a town of more than 1000 people,” Mrs Dalton said.

“73 post offices closed across Australia last year, and Coleambally will not be the next regional town that gets quietly written off.

“So we are taking it to the street.

“Bring the kids on the way through, bring your neighbours and bring a sign with you, the bigger and clearer the message, the harder it is for Australia Post to keep looking the other way.”

Residents feel the decision “does not reflect the needs, demographics or vulnerabilities of our community,” adding that there appeared to have been no meaningful consultation before the change.

The nearest full‑service post office is now be 35km away, located in Darlington Point.

When advising of the changeover, an Australia Post spokesperson told the Southern Riverina News the CPA would be open from Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings, and would provide “over the counter mail sending and receiving, basic postage assessments plus the sale of stamps and prepaid satchels”.

With a full service, the community would have access to Bank@Post, bill payments, identity checks, passport services, and the ability to lodge parcels, including returns, business freight and international items.

“What we need from the community is a turnout Australia Post cannot ignore,” Mrs Dalton said.

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Wednesday, 16th January 2030

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