Australia Post says it may stop delivering mail to homes where overhanging branches and vegetation get in the path of a fleet of safer electric trikes being rolled out around Victoria.

As Australia Post introduces its electric delivery vehicles, councils in some locations are taking steps to make sure there is clear footpath access — for some that includes chopping limbs off trees and pulling vegetation from nature strips.

The electric fleet is critical to Australia Post’s goal of reducing emissions by 15 per cent by 2025, and aims to improve postie safety with fewer motorcycle rounds, but some residents face a postal ransom if they don’t make way for the change, The Age reported.

Residents in Coburg claimed Australia Post had personally requested they cut back trees on their land.

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“Australia Post has changed delivery mode and now are using electric delivery mode due to the dimensions,” the Preston delivery centre wrote to the Coburg resident, in a letter seen by the publication.

“I have a duty of care to my staff that their health and safety is not jeopardised while in the process of delivering mail. The overhanging branches and bushes on your property are an immediate risk to your postie as she/he rides past.”

Australia Post said it may stop delivering mail to the resident if the branches weren’t removed by the new year.

“We would expect you to attend to this matter by 30/12/2022,” the letter said. “Failure to do so may result in your mail being held for collection.”

Down the road, residents said the Merri-bek Council chopped down the “nicest tree in the street”, leaving only a stump.

Anita Curnow, director of city infrastructure at Merri-bek, would not comment on whether the tree had been cut down at the request of Australia Post, but said she had received complaints from delivery services.

“Council has recently received complaints regarding overgrown vegetation along some footpaths in Merri-bek,” she told the publication.

“Vegetation on private property must be cut back to the property line, and not exceed a height of three metres to ensure that pedestrians, including delivery services, prams and other pedestrians, can easily and safely pass by.”

The City of Stonnington in Melbourne’s southeast said it had received more requests from Australia Post than usual since the electric trikes were introduced.

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A spokesman for Australia Post said the delivery service hadn’t asked councils to cut down trees, but did ask that footpaths be cleared of vegetation.

“We have introduced more than 3125 three-wheeled electric delivery vehicles across the country, helping us to make our posties safer by reducing motorcycle rounds, deliver more parcels and letters for our customers and work towards achieving our target to reduce emissions by 15 per cent by 2025,” a spokesman said.

“It’s important we have clear access to properties so we can keep delivering our customers’ letters and parcels efficiently and ensure a safe working environment for our team members.”

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