- Will significantly reduce truck movements due to co-location
- Spread across 42,00 square metres
- Will include a native bee colony
In March last year, The Property Tribune reported on the various distribution centres Woolworths had either opened or were on the way.
It was then reported that the Heathwood centre would be opened in the first half of 2022.
Grand opening
Yesterday, Woolworths unveiled its $184 million Heathwood Distribution Centre, 20 kilometres south west of Brisbane’s CBD.
The building had been partly operational since November last year, Woolworths said this was to support the network in the lead up to Christmas.
Woolworths said the Heathwood Distribution Centre is a 42,000 square metre temperature-controlled facility and will complement the company’s current Queensland network, servicing 280 Queensland and northern NSW Woolworths stores.
Over 200 jobs were created during the construction of the centre, and circa 300 ongoing jobs are said to have also been created, according to Woolworths.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said private sector investment in new infrastructure and jobs was crucial to rebuilding Queensland’s economy in the wake of COVID-19.
“Throughout the pandemic and again, during severe weather events this year, Queenslanders have gained a great appreciation for the important role distribution centres play in their lives,” the Premier said.
“This centre will not only create local jobs – it will grow the supply chain here in the southeast and help to ensure that Queenslanders always have access to food and other essentials.
“Having the Woolworths group choose Heathwood as the location for this brand new hub is a vote of confidence in our community and a sign that Queensland’s economy is roaring back to life.”
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the “Brisbane Economic Development Agency worked with Woolworths Group to accelerate the centre’s opening, which opened more doors of opportunity for our local economy.”
He added that the hub will create more food supply chain security and open up more supplier opportunities.
Capability
Woolworths said the facility can distribute over a million cartons of chilled, frozen, and fresh meat per week, at full capacity. The facility is also co-located and connected via an automated airbridge with meat supplier Hilton Foods Australia.
It is estimated some 390 truck movements will be removed from Brisbane’s roads each week by consolidating delivery loads to stores/
Heathwood Distribution Centre is also served by 4000 solar panels that will provide 100% power for the site during peak periods, a discharge rainwater tank which captures 3 million litres of rainwater and gentle run off, grassed areas across the grounds and provision for electric cars and trucks.
Woolworths and development partner LOGOS are buzzing with excitement as the companies will install native bee colonies on-site and cared for by a local beekeeper.
