Australia Post has begun trialling early morning deliveries of parcels in Canberra and is opening a new "superstore" in Woden next Monday.
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The postal giant is testing morning deliveries starting at 7am as opposed to its standard 9am-9.30am start, in an attempt to catch people when they are more likely to be at home.
Australia Post chief customer officer Christine Corbett said the suburbs included in the trial, which extends deliveries by 2.5 hours, were Harrison, Turner, Gowrie, Monash, Narrabundah and Kingston.
She said it applied to high density areas in Canberra such as apartments.
"Based on the success of this trial, it will continue through the Christmas period," Ms Corbett said.
"It is one of several initiatives we are trialling to enhance the parcel delivery experience for our customers."
If the trial is successful Australia Post will also consider testing night-time deliveries, which it introduced in Perth after a spate of parcel thefts.
However, Australia Post said it had not found this to be an issue in Canberra, and ACT policing said they did not break down theft statistics by the stolen items.
Ms Corbett revealed the company will open a 300 square metre post office in Woden Square on November 14.
"We have invested more than $700,000 in the new store, which will feature a 24/7 zone with parcel lockers, self-service terminals and extended identity services," she said.
Identity services include transactions that involve passports, working with children checks and ATO tax file numbers.
Ms Corbett said the Canberra Post Shop in the city was the only other Canberra store with all of the services offered in the new store.
"With parcels lockers being very popular in Canberra we are also looking at new locations for lockers in the new growth area of Canberra," she said.
With Christmas the peak parcel delivery period, from early December Australia Post will deliver on weekends in Canberra and offer extended post office hours at the Canberra Post Shop and at the Dickson, Jamison and Tuggeranong post offices.
The extended christmas trading hours are as follows:
· CANBERRA GPO POST SHOP
8.30am-6pm (Monday to Friday)
9.30am-1pm (Saturday)
· DICKSON POST SHOP
8.30am-5.30pm (Mon-Fri)
9.30-1pm (Sat)
· JAMISON CENTRE POST SHOP
9am-6pm (Mon-Fri)
9.30am-1pm (Sat)
· TUGGERANONG POST SHOP
9am-5.30pm (Mon-Fri)
9am-1pm (Sat)
