[THIS UNEDITED PRESS RELEASE IS PROVIDED COURTESY OF AMAZON AND IS PRESENTED BY THE GOA TEAM FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES]
MELBOURNE – 30 October, 2020 – Amazon Australia today announced plans to open a second Melbourne fulfilment centre (FC) late next year, increasing delivery speed for a wider selection of products for Victorian customers and creating around 300 jobs on completion. The new facility is currently under construction in Ravenhall, Melbourne – generating an additional 200 construction jobs – and will more than double Amazon’s operational footprint in Victoria, enabling Amazon to meet growing customer demand.
The new fulfilment centre will be 37,000 square metres – almost double the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground – with capacity to house up to six million items from Amazon.com.au ranging from health, household and personal care products, consumer electronics, books, clothing and pantry food and drink staples, to larger items like flat screen TVs, cartons of soft drink or nappies, and gardening equipment. Amazon’s new Ravenhall FC will join Amazon’s first Australian FC in Dandenong South which opened in 2017, significantly expanding its operating footprint in Victoria. Expanded capacity across the two sites will enable Amazon and its sellers to increase the proportion of items that can be shipped directly to Victorian customers from Melbourne and enable faster delivery.
“We have invested significantly in our Victorian operations this year to ensure we can continue to improve delivery promises to customers in the state. Our investment in this new Melbourne fulfilment centre will benefit customers around Victoria, while creating hundreds of jobs for Melbournians in a safe work environment, with competitive pay at a time when they are needed most. This fulfilment centre will also provide additional capacity for Victorian-based small and medium sized businesses who utilise the Fulfilment By Amazon service to benefit from our expanded capability and seamlessly serve customers across the country,” said Craig Fuller, Director of Operations, Amazon Australia.
“We’re proud to have played a unique role in supporting our Victorian customers during this unprecedented time, helping them to get the items they need for their families without leaving their homes. We are committed to improving selection and delivery speed as demand continues to grow. Furthermore, we are dedicated to enriching and giving back to the communities in which we operate and we look forward to working with Melton City Council, and the surrounding schools and local community groups to create impactful community programs,” he said.
Amazon has also invested in the expansion of its logistics network in Victoria this year, with the opening of two Melbourne Delivery Stations in Mulgrave and Melbourne Airport’s business park which will enable faster delivery to customers around Melbourne; and the launch of its innovative delivery service Amazon Flex. It will continue to invest in its existing fulfilment centre in Dandenong South while growing its fulfilment network with the opening of the new site in Ravenhall.
Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas said, “Amazon’s investment in a second fulfilment centre will bring hundreds of jobs to the western suburbs of Melbourne, providing local employment opportunities in suburban growth areas. We welcome this investment as a clear indicator of confidence in the state and attracting investment from significant global companies, such as Amazon, is critical to drive our economic recovery.”
CEO of Melton City Council Kelvin Tori said, “We welcome Amazon to the City of Melton and look forward to the fantastic opportunities they’ll deliver to people in the west,” Mr Tori said.
“Amazon’s decision to base its new fulfillment centre here makes great business sense and is a massive win for local jobs growth. To have an industry leader and major employer like Amazon invest in the City of Melton demonstrates the outstanding opportunities our city’s location has to major transport routes by rail, sea and air and access to a highly skilled and diverse workforce.”
“As one of Australia’s fastest growing cities, it’s opportunities like this that will strengthen our economy and help ensure more local families can find work close to home.”
Amazon worked with Dexus to secure the strategic location for the fulfilment centre at the Horizon 3023 estate, a 127-hectare site located in a West Melbourne industrial precinct which adjoins the Caroline Springs train station and is close to the proposed Western Intermodal Freight Terminal. Dexus has commenced works on the site and will ensure it meets Amazon’s specific requirements, supporting more than 200 construction jobs over the development and fit-out phase. The lease for the centre was facilitated by CBRE’s Industrial & Logistics business.
Dexus’s Chief Investment Officer, Ross Du Vernet, said: “We are pleased to be able to support Amazon’s growth in Australia. Horizon 3023 is a unique precinct offering world class logistics and warehousing solutions for customers. The public transport and high-quality amenity in the precinct are appealing to customers who are focused on their employees.”
Amazon.com.au launched in Australia in December 2017 and now offers customers 125 million products across 31 different categories including Amazon devices. Amazon has launched a number of products and services, such as Fulfilment By Amazon, Global Store, Prime, Shop Local and Amazon Launchpad, programs that help Australian businesses reach local customers.
