US tech giant Amazon is investing in Australia in a big way. With a $750 million capital, construction has just begun on their newest 140,000 square metre-, four level-warehouse, set to be completed by 2028.
The mammoth building will be located at the Flagstone Logistics Estate in North Maclean, Logan and will run 24 hours a day, thanks to the cutting-edge robots it will be fitted year. The size of 18 rugby fields, the warehouse will have storage capacity for 15 million items, and is expected to process over 125 million packages annually.
The project’s construction is expected to create around 2,000 jobs over the two years it will take to complete, followed by over 1,000 permanent roles, ranging from entry-level to HR and robotics technicians.
The latter will likely prove essential, as the facility is expected to deploy the company’s advanced robotics suite, including some capable of lifting 500 kilograms. This, of course, raises questions of safety, so the workers will wear tech vests that will communicate their presence to nearby robots, thereby preventing accidents.
Perhaps due to their reputation for poor treatment of their workers, Amazon Australia’s Director of Operations Wayne Angus said, “People are at the heart of our operations, and by combining innovative robotics technology with skilled local talent in this state-of-the-art site, we’re building a workplace where people and technology work hand in hand to deliver for our customers.”
Although Amazon already has a fulfilment centre in Brisbane at Lytton — plus logistics sites in Heathwood and Arundel on the Gold Coast — this is an unprecedented deal, that became possible after Brisbane City Council announced the plan to rezone 200 properties for warehousing, logistics and distribution purposes.
The Brisbane investment forms part of a broader $1 billion Australian expansion, and was, according to Deputy Premier, and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations, Jarrod Bleijie, approved in record time: only 35 business days.
What the community will think of the new fulfillment centre, remains to be seen.
