THE Somerton community will have access to a local Australia Post facility from next week for the first time in three months.
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Based at the Somerton Hotel, the town's Community Postal Agent (CPA) temporarily ceased operations in May due to "unforeseen circumstances" and mail was redirected to Tamworth.
However, from September 2, locals will be able to once again send and receive mail after a new agreement was reached with the Somerton service station to become the new CPA.
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New England MP Barnaby Joyce welcomed the move and said the new CPA would provide mail and parcel collection including post office boxes and basic postal services to the community.
"This is great news for the people in Somerton especially during this time of social distancing and increased need for parcel services to rural communities," Mr Joyce said.
"I have been following this matter closely and have been advocating to have the primary functions of a postal service returned to the village so this is a pleasing result."
An Australia Post spokesperson told the Leader in May it was actively seeking expressions of interest for someone to take over provision of the service.
"Australia Post is committed to maintaining postal services in Somerton and has opened Expressions of Interest to residents and local businesses to take on the provision of postal services," the spokesperson said in May.
Australia Post will be informing local residents this week and have advised all mail previously relocated to the Westdale site in Tamworth will be available at Somerton from the opening date.