Josh Frydenberg, the federal member for Kooyong, warmly welcomes Australia Post’s announcement that Balwyn Newsagency will be the new site for a fully serviced Licenced Post Office.

The post office will provide the full range of banking, bill payment and postal services for the residents and businesses of Balwyn. This model with its extensive range of products and services is used in over two‐thirds of Australia Post’s national network of postal outlets.

Australia Post is already working closely with the proprietors of Balwyn Newsagency, Bernard and Symone Shannon, on the training and fit out required for the new post office. Australia Post advises that they anticipate a fully functioning post office to be operational by early December, in time for the busy Christmas period.

Since the closure of the previous Balwyn Post Office in February this year, it has been a particularly difficult period for residents and traders wishing to use Australia Post’s services. Working with the Balwyn Traders Association, the state member for Box Hill, the Hon Robert Clark, Boroondara Council’s mayor, Cr Nicholas Tragas, Cr Dick Menting and the entire Balwyn community we have highlighted the adverse impact the closure of the post office has had on our local community and in doing so have secured Australia Post’s agreement to re-open a post office in Whitehorse Road.

“This is a wonderful result for the Balwyn community who rely on the important range of services provided by Australia Post. Bernard and Symone from the Balwyn Newsagency are well known and liked by our local community and I look forward to working with them in their new role. I also want to thank our local community, including the more than 5000 people who signed the petition I lodged in the Australian Parliament, for their unrelenting support and encouragement as we, together, made the case for re-establishing the Post Office”, Mr Frydenberg said.

Mr Frydenberg also thanked Australia Post for their decision to re-open the Balwyn Post Office. “I look forward to working productively with Australia Post for many years to come as they support the many residents and traders of Balwyn who use their range of important services”, Mr Frydenberg said.