Australia Post launched its new parcel facility in Avalon this week, with the deputy prime minister on hand to officially open the site.
Minister for Defence and Corio member Richard Marles opened the Avalon Parcel Facility this morning alongside Australia Post chief executive and managing director Paul Graham and Avalon Airport executive chairman David Fox.
Located next to Avalon Airport and close to key business customers such as Cotton On’s distribution centre, the facility has been built with Geelong’s rapidly growing population in mind.
The 14,000 sqm facility’s 150 workers will process up to 40,000 parcels each day, with the capacity to move 60,000 per day in the future.
Mr Graham said the facility was a “key milestone” and “an important investment” in the future.
“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,” Mr Graham said.
“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 5000 large parcels every hour through our automated sorting machines, which ensures we get deliveries out to customers faster.”
Cotton On has signed a two-year agreement with Australia Post to deliver its orders to customers around Australia, which the Geelong-based retailer’s general manager of distribution Andy Sanderson said would benefit customers around Australia.
“The proximity of the Australia Post Avalon Parcel Facility to our Australian Distribution Centre is set improve our speed to customers as we fulfil eCommerce orders, elevating their experience and getting them more of what they want, when and where they want it,” he said.
Mr Marles said he was pleased to be on hand to officially open the facility.
“This is an exciting day for Geelong because this facility supports more than 100 jobs right here in Avalon,” he said.
