Australia Post suspends mail delivery to Karlkurla estate after postman seriously injured in dog attack

Australia Post has decided to temporarily suspend mail deliveries in a Kalgoorlie-Boulder suburb following a “serious” dog attack that left a postal worker with serious injuries.

The postal service told Karlkurla Estate residents that Australia Post and Star Track mail and parcel deliveries to “all properties” in the area had been temporarily suspended.

In a letter to affected residents seen by the Kalgoorlie Miner, Australia Post said the suspension of deliveries was “due to a decision by the (City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder) Local Council to return a dog to its owners after it attacked one of our team members on July 3”.

The letter said the dog attack had caused “serious injuries” to the postman, who “required hospital treatment.”

An Australia Post spokesman said the incident was “the second time this dog has attacked our team member who was out on the road delivering supplies for the community.”

In response to questions from the Miner, city chief executive Andrew Brien said the city had conducted a “thorough investigation” into the dog attack incident and had “taken all necessary steps and actions as provided for in applicable procedures and laws.”

“The city was not initially informed of Australia Post’s decision to stop deliveries to Karlkurla,” he said.

“However, following the dog attack incident, the City took the necessary action and provided an update to Australia Post last week.

“While the City is committed to the safety of all residents and service providers, Australia Post reserves the right to make its own operational decisions.”

The city did not comment on the dog’s current status or whether the animal was back in their care.

The Australia Post spokesman said deliveries to the area could not resume until the dog owners and the city confirmed there was no “future threat”.

“The safety of our team members is our highest priority,” they said.

“We have contacted the dog owner and the council to ensure all appropriate measures have been taken to protect the dog and confirm that he does not pose a future threat to our team members before we can resume deliveries.”

Meanwhile, the company had advised residents of the Karlkurla district to collect their mail and parcels from the Hannans Post Office in the Hannans Boulevard shopping centre.

The spokesman said their postal workers are involved in an average of 55 incidents involving dogs each week.

“We call on all dog owners to take responsibility for their pets,” they said.

“Our team members just want to be able to deliver to our customers without being attacked, harassed or chased by dogs.”

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