Amazon Australia has opened a purpose-built fulfilment centre in Horsley Park, Western Sydney, after a ribbon-cutting with Fairfield City Council representatives and Amazon Australia director of operations Wayne Angus. The company said the facility represents a $400 million investment in its local operations.
The site spans approximately 80,000 square metres, which Amazon says is about four and a half times the size of the Sydney Opera House. It will have capacity to hold more than 10 million items sold on Amazon.com.au, covering everyday essentials, electronics, beauty products, books, toys and homeware.
Once fully operational, the centre will offer more than 1,000 local jobs. Roles will range from entry-level positions with on-the-job training and certification programmes to skilled jobs in operations, human resources, engineering and workplace health and safety. Amazon said permanent employees will receive subsidised health insurance for the entire family, free life insurance, up to 20 weeks of parental leave pay and free Amazon Prime membership.
Capacity and seller support
Amazon said the Western Sydney site will also support small and medium-sized businesses using Fulfilment by Amazon. The added capacity is intended to help Australian sellers with smaller items serve customers around the country more seamlessly.
The fulfilment centre will use advanced technology to assist teams as they pick and pack items for Amazon.com.au shoppers. Amazon said this contributes to its efforts to deliver a smarter, faster and more consistent experience for customers in Sydney and around Australia.
Sustainability features
The building includes sustainable design elements, state-of-the-art inbound and outbound sortation systems, a solar array on the roof, rapid rollers at all dock doors and insulation intended to maintain internal temperatures and reduce energy consumption. Motion-sensor lighting is also installed as part of the company’s energy-efficiency efforts.
Angus said the investment demonstrated Amazon’s long-term commitment to the region and to delivering a world-class experience for Australian customers. He added that as demand grows, the company is focused on improving selection and delivery speed while supporting the communities where it operates.
Fairfield City Council Mayor Frank Carbone said the investment would create opportunities for businesses to distribute products and reach customers across Australia and internationally. He described the facility as an investment in technology and capability, while crediting the people behind the scenes, from engineers to transport workers, for making it work.
Amazon Australia now has four operating fulfilment centres in New South Wales and five delivery stations. The Horsley Park site adds to that network in Western Sydney.