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Keep your postie happy with a clear letterbox |
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Written by Alan Richardson
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 Its important to keep your letterbox clear, so that posties like Mark Pottenger can deliver your mail at all times The Pilbara Echo is joining forces with Australia Post to remind all our readers to take steps in ensuring that your personal mail is protected and deliverable at all times.
One of the important points is to always keep your mailbox clear, especially when away on holidays.
“Australia Post asks residents to remember to clear their letterboxes every day so that mail does not build up and if they are going away on holidays, arrange for a trusted friend to collect the mail or take out a temporary mail hold at the post office. It’s very difficult to add more mail to a full letterbox,” said David Coburn, Postal Manager at the Karratha Post Office.
Echo editor Alan Richardson said “it is also important that when your paper arrives each week, take it out of your letterbox as soon as possible to allow room for your other less interesting mail, like bills.”
“Just because you have an Echo in there, doesn’t mean you can avoid paying them” he said.
The thought of your personal details in someone else’s hands is not a nice one, which is why it is also important to maintain a secure letterbox.
“Australia Post’s responsibility for resident’s mail ends once it has been placed in a letterbox, which is why it is so important to maintain a safe and sturdy box which protects mail until it can be collected,” said David.
The best letterboxes are those which provide privacy and security for your mail by keeping it out of sight and reach of passers by until you are ready to collect it.
“While a letterbox installed many years ago may have been suitable for the amount and type of mail received at the time, it may no longer be ideal,” added David.
“We are receiving larger volumes of mail and larger items of mail, like magazines, mail order catalogues and A4 envelopes which need a large and sturdy letterbox to house them after they have been delivered.”
Ideally, letterboxes should be large enough to allow an A4 envelope to lay flat inside it and be large enough to allow all of the mail you receive to be pushed fully inside.
Australia Post recommends a locked letterbox that is 230 mm left to right, 330mm deep front to back, 160 mm high front to bottom and locked.
The slot should be the full width of the letterbox but not large enough for someone to fit their hand through.
The box should be elevated between 900mm and 1200mm above the ground.
A newspaper tube attached to the side is also handy for things like the Echo.
David added that is also very important to have a lock on your letterbox and keep the key in a safe place, to deter thieves.
“Anyone who suspects their mail has been stolen after delivery should report their suspicions to police as soon as they can. Reporting this crime is the best way to bring about the prosecution of those criminals committing it,” he said. |
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