Australia Post’s latest state-of-the-art parcel facility was officially opened today (October 12) in Avalon, Victoria.
It is hoped that the new facility will boost Australia Post’s capacity to support eCommerce growth across the region, ahead of the busy peak Christmas delivery period.
The facility is 14,000 square metres and can process 40,000 parcels per day, with capacity to expand to 60,000 parcels per day in the future. With more than 150 team members, the facility has been built to support parcel and mail processing, pick-up and delivery, as well as transport and linehaul operations.
The site includes a newly developed tier-two large parcel sorter, parking for up to 14 semi-trailers and 92 indoor van bays.
Strategically located next to the airport and close to key business customers within the new industrial park, the Avalon Parcel Facility has been purpose built to support the growing population of the Greater Geelong region, one of the two fastest growing areas in regional Australia.
Energy efficiency was an important consideration, with a Building Management System installed that allows smart remote control of mechanical and electrical services to reduce power consumption.
Australia Post CEO and Managing Director Paul Graham said the new facility highlighted Australia Post’s efforts to meet continued parcel growth as more Australians continue to shop online, particularly in the lead up to Christmas.
“This modern facility is another key milestone for Australia Post and an important investment in our future as growth in eCommerce continues,” Graham said.
“Being close to Avalon Airport and having access to key transport links will ensure we can deliver efficiently through our network, which is great news for our customers, particularly as we approach the busiest time of year for online shopping.
“Expanding our capacity in Avalon ensures our customers will receive a consistently reliable service. With the high-tech equipment we have installed in this facility, we can process more than 5,000 large parcels every hour through our automated sorting machines, which ensures we get deliveries out to customers faster.”
Retailer, Cotton On, which is located within the Avalon industrial area, recently signed a new two-year agreement with Australia Post to deliver eCommerce orders to its customers, nationally.
Australia Post will also undertake mail processing, including letters and small parcels, for the City of Greater Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and outlying areas, with an average of 30,000 letters and 7000 small parcels delivered within this catchment each week.
The Avalon facility is the second of its kind that Australia Post has opened in recent weeks, having cut the ribbon on a 33,680 square metre parcel centre in Kemps Creek, Sydney, in June.
Servicing Greater Western Sydney and the surrounding region, the facility is the second largest sorting facility in the network and has been designed with future expansion in mind.
The modern, purpose-built facility incorporates parcel processing, pick-up and delivery, as well as transport and linehaul operations, with the planned Western Sydney Airport located only 15km away.
Australia Post is looking to fill thousands of transport jobs in the lead-up to Christmas with some 3000 seasonal casual roles are available, and forklift and truck drivers with a valid licence are their top priority for recruitment.