$184m Woolworths hub to create 500 jobs for Brisbane

Supermarket giant Woolworths has started a $184m distribution centre near Brisbane that will cut delivery times and create 500 jobs.

Supermarket giant Woolworths is planning a $184m refrigeration distribution centre south of Brisbane that will be three times the size of Suncorp Stadium and create 500 jobs.

Woolworths supply chain arm Primary Connect has started work on the 42,000 sq m centre at Heathwood that will handle deliveries of around 4,000 frozen and chilled products to more than 260 stores across Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The centre, which will create 200 jobs during construction and 300 operational jobs, is set to open in the first half of next year.

The facility will be co-located with Woolworths’ meat supplier Hilton Foods helping take up to 390 trucks off Brisbane roads each week by consolidating deliveries,

Primary Connect Queensland general manager Dale Acton said the extra delivery capacity would support Woolworths’ continued growth in Queensland.

Woolworths Group’s supply chain arm has commenced building works on its new Heathwood Distribution Centre in southeast Queensland.

“Over the next five years we plan to inject a total of $500 million into the Queensland economy across our store network and supply chain, e-commerce and shopping centre developments — creating more than 5,000 new jobs,” Mr Acton said.

At full capacity the centre, being built by Vaughan Constructions, will handle more than two million cartons a week It also is targeting a Five Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, with a major solar panel system on the roof and charge points for electric trucks.

The investment is being majority funded by logistics company Logos with Woolworths signing an initial 15 year lease on the site.

Logos Head of Australia and New Zealand Darren Searle said the facility would complete the 25 hectare Heathwood estate as a world class food distribution hub servicing Brisbane and the greater region alongside Asahi Beverages and Hilton Foods.