Australian postal and parcel deliveries have been heavily impacted by Cyclone Yasi that hit thenorth-east coast last week while floods and bush fires are now also hitting operations in other
parts of the country.The cyclone hit the Queensland coast with winds of up to 290km/h causing widespread damage toproperty and infrastructure. In addition, the country, which has already suffered recently fromdramatic flooding in Queensland and Victoria, is now being impacted by more flooding in south-eastand southern regions as well as by bush fires in Western Australia.
Last Friday, Australia Post reported mail delivery disruptions in areas affected by CycloneYasi. It had closed 79 post offices in preparation for the cyclone. The company is now in the midstof a full damage assessment of its facilities.
TNT Express Australia said it experienced network disruptions as a result of weekend floodingand railway closures in Seymour, Victoria, Tarcoola in South Australia and west of Broken Hill.There have been flood-related delays in Perth-bound Day Definite and Specialised Services fromSydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Despite further rain in South Australia, however, the east-west Tarcoola railway line has beenopened again. “Contingency planning continues as we anticipate high volumes of freight will beginto arrive in Perth in the coming days. TNT will seek to ensure deliveries are made as quickly aspossible. However, we continue to request your patience as we attempt to mitigate the effects ofthese delays,” the company explained.
Express company Toll IPEC said yesterday that severe flooding west of Broken Hill and in thevicinity of Tarcoola near Port Augusta had slowed linehaul movements from eastern states to Perth. “ Recently dispatched freight may be delayed by 2-3 days as a result of this flooding event. Everyeffort is being made to expedite delivery of any freight impacted by this flooding,” the companyadded.
Star Track Express announced today that unavoidable delivery delays in the Victorian towns ofQuambatook, Murabit, Mystic Park and Benjaroop will continue and some areas in Mildura, a regionalcity in northwestern Victoria, cannot be reached. “For all other Victorian areas that wereaffected, freight will be delivered today,” the company said.
In Queensland, the extreme conditions caused by Tropical Cyclone Yasi have resulted in damage toproperty and infrastructure in Far North Queensland and are still causing delivery delays to CairnsRoad Express freight and Atherton Tablelands freight. These deliveries will be affectedtomorrow.
In Western Australia, bush fires are still causing delivery delays into the areas of Brigadoon,Baskerville, Millendon, Red Hill, Kelmscott, Armadale, Roleystone, Martin, Bindoon and Herne Hillin the City of Swan, Star Track Express added. “Although things have improved as far as the firesbeing contained or put out, emergency crews are still in these areas and there may still be delays.Not all deliveries will be affected but it is still uncertain how our drivers will go through theseareas.”
Australian Air Express reported today that further flooding has occurred in North WesternVictoria, particularly Mildura and surrounding areas. “Pickup and delivery services may bedisrupted in areas of North Western Victoria. AaE will endeavour to provide a normal service wherepossible, however we apologise if this is not possible on all occasions.”
Yesterday, AaE announced service disruptions in Far North Queensland with some areas still beingaffected by the damage due to the Tropical Cyclone Yasi. AaE reported that ports in Townsville,Ingham and Innisfail were experiencing service disruptions.
ParcelDirect Group, the DHL-New Zealand Post venture, also reported last Friday that the cyclonehad left a trail of destruction in North Queensland and that the region was re-establishingservices to the community.
