CONFUSION is reigning for some local residents as they wonder whether they live in Lakewood, Laurieton or Kew.
Residents living west of Sirius Drive received notification from Australia Post earlier this year urging them to ensure their mail is correctly addressed as Kew NSW 2439, not Laurieton or Lakewood NSW 2443.
An Australia Post spokesperson said “Australia Post allocates postcodes to localities that have been officially gazetted by state land agencies. In the majority of cases, a post code covers an area made up of more than one locality. We own and maintain our postcode database for the sole purpose of improving the sorting and delivery of the mail.”
In their letter Australia Post said they were informed by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council that residents west of Sirius Drive lived in the locality of Kew.
This distinction effectively draws a line through what is commonly referred to as Lakewood; one side of the shopping complex is postcode 2443, the other is 2439. The change in postcode also means residents in 2439 must collect parcels from the Kendall post office.
Affected resident Clive Parker said the change is an inconvenience for businesses and creates confusion over certificates of title.
“Most of us do our shopping in Laurieton and now we will have to make a trip to Kendall to get our mail,” Mr Parker said.
“Both Moorland and Johns River are in the 2443 postcode, yet the small pocket between Woolworths and the highway are in 2439.”
Mr Parker has certificates of title which show that properties in the area west of Sirius Drive are classed as being in “Lakewood”, a copy of a septic tank approval for installation at Brotherglen Drive “Laurieton”, and ammendments to LEP2001 for lots off Brotherglen Drive “Laurieton”.
“The financial cost is a problem too,” Mr Parker said.
“I’ve found that NRMA Insurance on a motor vehicle housed in Kew is more expensive than for one housed in Lakewood.”
The Courier consulted the NRMA website which offered a quote for a 2009 model Ford Falcon: at Kew the cost per year for CTP Greenslip was $503, for Lakewood $465.
Mr Parker said 74 affected residents filed letters of complaint with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. He said the residents would like to see the boundary moved closer to the Pacific Highway.
The council is proposing to change the name of the locality west of Sirius Drive, to just east of the new highway bypass, to Lakewood and is seeking public comment before making a move.
If residents make submissions supporting the proposal the council will apply to the Geographic Names Board to have the locality name changed, if not the status quo will remain.
Submissions will be accepted until November 2. For more information contact and map of the affected area contact Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s Laurieton branch in Laurie Street.
