Parcels to Australia could be held up at a chain of new mail "hubs" rather than delivered direct to people's doors, if new plans are given the go ahead.

Australia's postal service, Australia Post, has targeted some of the fastest growing parts of the country in south-east Queensland and west Sydney to try the idea out, according to the Sunday Mail newspaper.

That could seriously affect the reliability of deliveries of letters and parcels to Australia sent from the UK – with residents being alerted by text message when their post was ready for collection.

Australia Post claims that the plans would only go ahead with the approval of local communities, and would only be applied to new housing developments.

While the move would save Australia Post money and reduce carbon emissions, critics are already pointing to the effect of a hub system on older and disabled people.

Such consumers may not be able to get to the "community mailboxes" easily.

Any move by Australia Post is sure to improve business for alternative carriers of parcels to Australia.