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More than 200 households in eight streets have been left without mail deliveries after Australia Post slapped a ban on a troublesome area in West Dubbo.
The action followed the latest in a series of attacks on postal delivery officers.
Police said a group of youths surrounded a female postie in O'Donnell Street on Wednesday, "handling'' her motorcycle and allegedly stealing a parcel.
The next morning residents of Crum Avenue and Leavers, Alcheringa, Illura, Coolabah, O'Donnell, Wattle and East streets were told Australia Post had enough.
"We are ceasing daily mail deliveries to your area from today,'' an official letter said.
"A series of incidents that have occurred since April (pose) a serious safety risk to our postie and an unacceptable environment in which to work.
"As our postie has once again been targeted by unprovoked and unnecessary intimidation, we have made a decision to cease mail delivery to the area and make mail available from collection at the West Dubbo LPO (post office).
"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, however the safety of our people is paramount and Australia Post will not put the health and safety of our postie at further risk.''
The Daily Liberal has been told postal delivery officers working in the troubled spot had been subjected to attacks from groups of out-of-control youths, some as young as five.
Posties had been spat on and hit by rocks and bottles. Some had returned to the mail delivery centre with bruises the size of cricket balls on their backs.
"It's hard to comprehend that small children can create so much havoc and continue to get away with it,'' a worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
"The violence and intimidation has been unbelievable. It's terrible that the delivery of mail has been stopped but action was needed to protect the posties.
"I just feel sorry for the people who live in the area. They put up with so much because of these youths and now they can't even get their mail.''
A man who has lived in Leavers Street for 43 years yesterday expressed his disgust with the behaviour of "rampaging youths''.
"I swore out loud when I got the letter about the mail delivery ban,'' he said.
"It's all due to feral kids. People living in the area were warned back in April that delivery would be stopped if attacks on posties continued.
"It's the same gang of kids, ranging in age from five to 15. They offend in small and large groups and terrorise the neighbourhood.
"Residents lock themselves inside their houses when things get bad. We're not even brave enough to go into our gardens.
The resident said he would be able to drive to the Delroy shopping centre to collect his mail from the post office.
"It will be inconvenient but at least I have a car,'' he said.
"Some of the people who live in this area don't have transport and a number are frail aged or disabled.
"I'd love to give the troublesome kids a kick in the tail. Something has to be done to stop them. They are out of control and starting to run the town.
"They cause trouble all over West Dubbo and in the central business district. It's particularly bad when they get on drugs and alcohol. I fear what these kids will be like when they get older.''
A spokesperson for Australia Post said everyone in the community had a role to play in keeping posties safe.
"We apologise for the inconvenience (caused by the cessation of mail deliveries in the area) but we won't compromise the safety of our people,'' the spokesperson said.
"Nor will we tolerate this type of behaviour from a small minority who are putting the health and safety at risk.''
