West Gosford: Amazon opens new Central Coast distribution centre

Online retail giant Amazon has opened its first distribution hub on the Central Coast. Here’s what it means for jobs and delivery times.

The new Central Coast Amazon distribution centre has opened at West Gosford. Picture: NewsLocal

Amazon has opened its eleventh distribution hub in Australia and its first on the Central Coast in a purpose-built $2.7 million, 2245sq m warehouse at West Gosford.

The former abattoir and later skip bin site, at the end of Marstan Cl, will serve as the logistics point for Amazon packages, which arrive by truck from fulfilment centres in Newcastle and Sydney to be packed up and delivered by its Amazon Flex drivers.

The distribution hub powers the “last mile” of the order process and while Amazon is confident it will improve efficiency and “delight members with even faster delivery times” it has stopped short of stating exactly how much.

Instead, the company’s official line is it promises to meet or beat the delivery time stated on the amazon.com.au website at the time of purchase — which for members on Prime eligible items is two days.

Amazon Australia operations director Mindy Epsidio-Garcia said the company was pleased to create local jobs and be “an active member of the community”.

Staff at the new Central Coast Amazon distribution centre at West Gosford (L-R) Harry Hampton, Arden Cannone, Joshua Gabriel and Antonio Das Neves. Picture: NewsLocal

“The opening of our logistics site in West Gosford will enable us to provide an enhanced delivery experience for customers in the Central Coast,” she said.

“Building infrastructure closer to where our customers live enables us to deliver to them more efficiently, as well as creating exciting job opportunities for locals in a safe and positive work environment.”

Joshua Gabriel and Arden Cannone are among the new staff to start working at the new Amazon distribution hub at West Gosford. Picture: NewsLocal

Site lead James Montecillo started his Amazon career at the Kemps Creek fulfilment centre and has since gone on to lead Amazon logistics sites at Bella Vista, Newcastle and now West Gosford.

“I was very excited to be given the opportunity to launch the West Gosford site,” he said.

“It’s a great community and team to be part of. What I love the most about this role is being able to see the delivery process from end to end and delighting customers with our delivery promises.”

Meanwhile Amazon is recruiting Central Coast locals, looking to supplement their existing income, to join its Amazon Flex delivery program.

Flex Delivery driver Venkatesh Sripathi and Charlene Redman

pick up packages as the new Amazon hub. Pictures: NewsLocal

The program is essentially Amazon’s own in-house version of Uber or Menulog, where delivery partners can use their own cars to courier packages from the West Gosford site to customers’ doors.

The opening of the West Gosford site is Amazon’s eleventh logistics centre in Australia and follows the opening of Mayfield West in Newcastle, with both sites delivering packages throughout the greater Central Coast and Hunter regions.