Following Yaraka’s success in getting a mobile phone tower erected and switched on, the tiny western Queensland town is now exercising its muscle in the postcode sphere.
For years it has shared the 4702 postcode with places such as Shoalwater and Gracemere, hundreds of kilometres away, and shared the indignity of being tarred with metropolitan crime data when insurance premiums were calculated, and it wants to change that.
Federal Member for Maranoa, David Littleproud, has campaigned strongly with Australia Post on behalf of the community at the “end of the line” for its own mailing identity, after being approached by the Longreach Regional Council and Yaraka community members soon after being elected.
The anomaly comes from the years when Yaraka was part of the railway line that extended west from Rockhampton, and received its mail from that source.
That’s long gone but Yaraka is still feeling the effect, including being recognised as a coastal postcode when insurance companies come to calculate insurance premiums for places affected by cyclones, despite being 700 km inland.
“For Australia Post, the issue is all about mail delivery efficiency,” Mr Littleproud said. “I’ve been in constant contact with the community on this and while mail delivery delays is definitely an issue, it was just the tip of the sand hill.”
He said he had almost persuaded Australia Post to give Yaraka its own four-digit mailing identity but it now needs to be tested in the community.
“Australia Post told me it will change Yaraka’s postcode to 4734 but it will have to test community support.
“If you live in Yaraka, join me in the postcode change campaign,” Mr Littleproud said.
- Australia Post will poll Yaraka residents on June 12.
Postscript – Mr Littleproud has been toasting success with the Yaraka community on a couple of occasions since his election, after being able to get the installation of the mobile phone tower moving again. If this latest communications campaign is successful he’ll no doubt be back at the Yaraka Hotel to raise a glass with locals, and thinks the owners should name a beer after him one day. Littleproud Lager, perhaps?