A new Community Postal Agency has opened at Shoalhaven Heads, restoring local access to postal services following the closure of the village post office late last year.

The agency officially opened on Monday and is operating from the Shoalhaven Heads Pharmacy.

The service allows residents to send and collect parcels, purchase stamps and access basic postal services within the community.

Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said she began advocating for a replacement postal service after being contacted by Shoalhaven Heads residents concerned about the loss of the local post office.

“The local post office has been an important service for the Shoalhaven Heads community for many years, which is why I worked to ensure a postal service was returned as soon as possible,” Phillips said.

Phillips supported a community petition and made representations to the Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, seeking the reinstatement of postal services.

The Community Postal Agency will operate Monday to Friday.

An Australia Post post box will also be installed outside the Shoalhaven Heads shopping centre, reducing the need for residents to travel to Bomaderry to post letters.

Phillips thanked local residents, as well as pharmacist James Zhai and the team at the Shoalhaven Heads Pharmacy, for their role in establishing the new service.