Wetherill Park: Traffic concerns swirl around new Woolworths distribution centre

Fears a mega 24-hour Woolworths warehouse – set to generate more than 600 jobs – could spark traffic chaos following a projected increase of trucks have been raised by residents and a southwest Sydney council.

Artist impressions of the proposed Woolworths distribution centre at Wetherill Park.

Fears a mega 24-hour Woolworths warehouse – set to generate more than 600 jobs – could spark traffic chaos following a projected increase of trucks during peak hours have been raised by residents and Fairfield Council.

Willowtree Planning, on behalf of Fabcot Pty Ltd owned by Woolworths, revealed plans for a $303m warehouse and distribution centre to provide chilled and fresh products to about 285 supermarkets, metro stores and convenience-based outlets across NSW.

Planners for the project state the warehouse would consolidate the operations at the Minchinbury, Arndell Park and Prospect centres into the new two-storey facility at 250 Victoria St, Wetherill Park.

“The proposed development encourages employment-generating opportunities … which has positive influences on the wider locality,” planners state.

Woolworths further argued the “immediate benefit” would reduce truck movements while the nearby intersections would “continue to operate with a satisfactory level of service”.

Artist impressions of the proposed Woolworths distribution centre in Wetherill Park

“The net immediate benefit will be an immediate reduction in truck movements on Sydney’s broader road network via the network efficiency that we can create,” planners state.

“The proposed development has been designed to mitigate noise impacts through setbacks to sensitive receivers, acoustic barriers along boundaries and a variety of mitigation and management measures.”

Artist impressions of the proposed Woolworths distribution centre at Wetherill Park.

Fairfield Council requested Woolworths and the NSW Planning and Environment Department on the scope of funding for “infrastructure upgrades” to curb potential traffic backlogs at Redfern, Walter and Hassall streets.

“The distribution centre is anticipated to generate 185 trucks during the peak hour of the day and 1400 truck movements daily,” planners state.

“Due to the increased truck movements, traffic congestion is anticipated on the adjoining road network particularly during the peak hours of the day.”

The council further requested for the projected number of truck breakdowns expected to travel to and from the site via Redfern and Victoria streets on a “typical day” over 24 hours.

The centre will open 24 hours if ppproved.

“The significant increase in truck movements is likely to increase road pavement wear in the vicinity of the site in the short and/or long term due to the increased axle loadings,” council planners state.

Council further raised concerns after they claimed Woolworths failed to “mitigate any underestimated predicted operational noise levels generated by the use of the site”.

Fairfield resident Anthony Nguyen built his home 750m away from the proposed project and said the centre would negatively impact the nearby homeowners.

“There’s already a significant amount of truck noise levels and with this distribution centre it will only get worse,” he said.

“I understand the land is deemed a mix between industrial and residential. However this distribution centre … will harvest a ridiculous amount of trucks, traffic, noise and pollution.”