• The site will create more than 200 local jobs, with applications now open
• This is Amazon’s fifth operations site in Victoria as it continues to invest in the state
• The building features the largest solar panel system at an Amazon site in Australia

MELBOURNE, 4^th October 2022 – Construction of Amazon Australia’s first standalone sort centre at Goodman Group’s new Amaroo Business Park in Craigieburn, Melbourne is nearing completion. Once fully operational, the site will create around 200 local jobs, ranging from entry level positions that will sort customer orders to specialist roles including human resources, workplace health and safety to team leader positions, with applications now open.

Having generated over 700 construction jobs since construction commenced in March this year, the 15,600sqm site – around the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground - is in the final stage of internal fit-out and will be operational in time for the holidays.

Amazon sort centres are central to Amazon’s logistics network, and are where already-picked-and-packed customer orders from fulfilment centres are further sorted by final destination, and then consolidated and shipped to last mile sites for delivery to customers.

As part of Amazon’s commitment to be net-zero carbon across its business by 2040, the building is powered 100% by electricity, avoiding the use of fossil fuels for its heating and hot water systems, and with energy efficiency as a top priority. Features include:

• The largest solar panel system at an Amazon site in Australia with 3,078 solar panels covering 7,121 square-metres of roof. The solar panels have the capacity to achieve 1.4MW of solar power, expected to generate 80% of the site’s energy needs.
• 12 electric vehicle charging stations with the capacity to install 30 in the future, making up 20 per cent of the site’s total car parks.
• A rainwater recycling system connecting to toilets and irrigation, water efficient sanitary fixtures and fittings to reduce mains water consumption.
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is controlled by a building management system (BMS) that ensures a comfortable working environment for employees at the same time as reducing unnecessary energy consumption. LED lighting adjusts according to natural light availability and building occupancy, and indoor air quality is constantly monitored.

Amazon is on a path to powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, reaching 85% in 2021, and is the biggest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world. In 2019, Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge – a commitment to be net-zero carbon across our business by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

Commenting on what this new site means for Australian customers and the Victorian economy, Amazon Australia’s Director of Operations, Mindy Espidio-Garcia said, “We’re thrilled to open our first Australian sort centre here in Melbourne, the home of our very first fulfilment centre in 2017. Our continued investment in the state is a signal of our commitment to benefit both customers in the region with faster delivery speeds, as well as in the Victorian economy through the creation of thousands of local jobs for residents across our logistics sites. The opening of this site will further enhance our logistics capability, enabling faster delivery for the thousands of Australian businesses who sell their products on amazon.com.au.”

“People are at the heart of our operations and we are committed to ensuring we are a great place to work, providing an inclusive and safe environment. We have a range of opportunities including entry-level roles with on the job training, and we welcome applications from motivated people from a range of background and experience levels,” she said.

Hume City Council Deputy Mayor Cr Sam Misho said: “Council is delighted to welcome Amazon to Hume City and we are very excited for the 200 ongoing jobs it will create, as well as the 700 construction jobs it created within our community. This facility is the first of its kind for Amazon, which is also an exciting development for Hume.

We will develop and continue to grow our relationship with Amazon to support their establishment, growth and sustainability in Hume.” 

Goodman Australia CEO, Jason Little said: “Our latest development for Amazon clearly demonstrates how Goodman optimises our properties for our customers, their people and technology - helping deliver the infrastructure shaping Australia’s digital economy.  Together with Amazon, we believe it’s important to make a tangible difference to the planet and the people on it, which is why several environmentally sustainable design features have been incorporated.”

The Craigieburn Sort Centre is Amazon's fifth operations site in Melbourne, supporting the company's existing fulfilment and logistics network in Victoria which includes fulfilment centres in Dandenong South and Ravenhall, and Amazon Logistics sites in Tullamarine and Mulgrave.

Amazon has recently announced they are hiring for over 2,000 seasonal roles for the festive season, with jobs available at its fulfilment centres and Amazon Logistics sites across the country, including within its wider Victorian network. For those who prefer a more flexible work arrangement there are also earning opportunities, delivering packages with Amazon Flex.

Amazon.com.au launched in Australia in December 2017 and now offers customers 200 million products across 31 different categories including Amazon devices. Amazon has launched several products and services, such as Fulfilment By Amazon, Global Store, Prime, Shop Local, Easy Ship and Amazon Launchpad, programs that help Australian businesses reach local customers.

– ENDS –

Notes to editors

Media contact:

Jessica Makin, Operations PR Manager, Amazon Australia
E: jmakin@amazon.com    M: +61 416 292 912

Visual assets: Renders and b-roll are available upon request. Contact amazon@decpr.com.au for details.

About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.