Posties in seasonal overdrive

NEARLY three million Christmas parcels will be delivered to homes and businesses tomorrow in the busiest day in the 209-year history of Australia Post.

Posties, drivers and parcel sorters have moved into overdrive to ensure Australia’s shoppers and gift givers have their goods delivered in time for Christmas at up to 11½ million locations.

And this weekend will be manic for posties who are expected to deliver more than 650,000 parcels – the busiest weekend on record.

Weekend deliveries have been introduced in the run-up to Christmas across the nation, including in metropolitan and regional cities.

Australia Post’s chief operating officer, Bob Black, said some drivers had each delivered more than 400 parcels a day to cope with the massive influx in the finals weeks before Christmas.

Australia Post expects to deliver more than 40 million parcels this month, up from 37 million parcels delivered in December last year.

They have also hired an additional 3000 staff during the Christmas period.