Your questions keep rolling in regarding mail and bus services and when the power will be on. Finally, we have some answers, your mail and parcels are being cleaned!

MAIL

It has been difficult getting information from Australia Post about the current situation. Today, we received these answers to our questions:

What about the South Lismore mail distribution/sorting centre that went under in the flood - was all the mail there lost/flooded?

There was significant flood damage to our mail distribution centre in South Lismore. Australia Post team members have come from all over Australia to help with the cleanup.

This morning, mail and parcels have been moved from the site and sent to Bundall for cleaning and processing. Parcels that were located at floor level, were damaged and are being cleaned by Australia Post staff today. Most of the parcels at the site have been recovered. We will contact the senders and receivers of these parcels over the coming days.

When will post offices in Lismore reopen (or, will they all reopen)?

With limited access to any of the post offices in the Lismore areas, the community are using the Alstonville PO as the closest active outlet. We expect more outlets to come on board as the water continues to recede over the coming days. We are working hard to establish a collection point in Snow St, Lismore for our customers over the next 48 hours.

Additional cleaning resources are being sourced so we can get our Post Offices back up and running as soon as possible.

• Generators have been sourced and will be onsite from Wednesday / Thursday
• Battery suppliers being sourced for additional lighting 
• More cleaning resources are arriving today

What can people do about lost mail or packages that may have been inundated in the flood?

We encourage our customers that information for their parcels will be updated as soon as we can.

Who can they contact for info on mail lost or in transit?

You can continue to track your packages and get updates through the Australia Post mobile app. Tracked items will be delivered as soon as it is safe to do so. Express Post and StarTrack Premium items are also being prioritised.

Other information that may be useful for local residents:

You may be eligible for up to 12 months free mail redirection if a major natural disaster impacts your mail delivery. We may also be able to hold your mail for up to four weeks at no charge. Visit any Post Office to find out more and apply.

The Lismore App understands that locals can use the Lismore Heights and Goonellabah Post Offices to send mail and parcels through Alsonville just don't expect to receive mail or pracels anytime soon. Mobile phones are available through these Post Offices if needed.

BUSES

Northern Rivers Buslines spokesperson Dean told the Lismore App all routes in town are running so the 682 and 685 to Goonellabah along with the 683 to Lismore Heights and the Lismore Loop on 684. Click here to see the timetable.

The 661 from Lismore to Ballina is also running.

School bus services are still up in the air with many schools determining when they will open and how.

Richmond River High School students and staff will be attending the Lismore High campus from this Monday 14 March. Dean said they were waiting to receive more information from schools, the Department of Education and Catholic schools in the coming day to service the 10,000 students they have in their system. NRs Buslines will be adding any new information on their website https://www.buslinesgroup.com.au/northern-rivers/ so you are encouraged to look each day.

Unfortunately, local bus companies that work the school runs have been badly hurt by the floods. Companies like Simes, Quinns, Sodhi and Halls Bus Company all lost some buses, some worse than others. Halls will only be running the Numulgi to Bexhill run starting Monday.

Parents will need to be patient as cleanup operations continue and logistics are confirmed.