Australia Post struggles to cope with surge in parcels

Illawarra post office employees are working extended hours and clearing space on the floor to keep up with a huge surge in parcel volumes resulting from the eCommerce boom.Parcel deliveries on the South Coast rose from about 158,000 to 188,000 in the past financial year - an increase of almost 19 per cent.Wollongong Post Office manager Jennifer Walsh has seen Christmas volumes reach unprecedented highs this week.On Monday - eight days after what was tipped as the busiest online shopping day at eBay.com.au - parcels overflowed from the storage shelves at the back of Wollongong Post Office, spilling onto the floor and down the hallway."We've had an explosion of parcels - probably 15-20 per cent more [than last Christmas]," Ms Walsh said."The contractors have been coming in at 5.45 at night, and we know they're pretty tired."Everyone's online for a bargain and they've got to get them delivered somehow."Nationally, Australia Post expects to deliver one million more packages than last Christmas, or three million more than in a normal month.It has introduced extended trading hours and Saturday trading in some stores as part of efforts to keep pace with demand.Australia Post has also rented extra depots, employed extra staff and sent head office staff to the post office floor to help manage the movement of parcels.About 70 per cent of parcels are generated from eCommerce, which is poised to reach $30 billion by year's end, according to a report by PayPal.Wollongong and Dapto post offices have extended opening hours until 6pm tonight and between 9am and midday tomorrow.Kiama Post Office is also open until 6pm today.