Robotic warehouse gets green light for Amazon in South East Queensland

The $750 million facility will be a first of its kind for Brisbane, following in the footsteps of similar ARS centres in Kemps Creek, NSW, and Craigieburn, Victoria, and is expected to create 1000 jobs. Amazon already has three other sites in Queensland – another fulfilment centre in Lytton and logistics sites in Heathwood and Arundel.

Robotics is the future of industrial warehousing, with companies leveraging AI-powered technology for inventory management, robotics for picking and sorting and automated storage and retrieval systems.

However, Amazon insists that its staff and local communities are top priorities. 

“People are at the heart of our operations, and by combining innovative robotics technology with skilled local talent in this state-of-the-art site, we’re building a workplace where people and technology work hand in hand to deliver for our customers,” said Wayne Angus, Amazon Australia’s director of operations.

“We look forward to supporting the local community as we partner with schools and community groups around the new facility and creating new opportunities for the Queensland-based small and medium businesses who use Amazon to seamlessly service customers across the country.” 

The Flagstone Logistics Estate, a 118-hectare site owned by property developer Charter Hall, is already home to some big-name tenants. Bunnings finished practical completion on a 41,000 square metre warehouse there in November last year, and retail wholesaler DATS is due to reach practical completion on an 18,500-square-metre warehouse there this month. 

“Flagstone is set to be one of Queensland’s leading industrial estates, with its prime positioning, renewable energy solutions, and the scale and flexibility to meet our tenant customers’ needs,” said Richard Stacker, Charter Hall’s industrial and logistics chief executive. 

“The strength of the tenant covenant already secured underscores this, with leading Australian and global businesses recognising the strategically significant growth opportunity that Flagstone offers.”

However, the site has a history of controversy with local community groups fighting development for approximately 20 years. 

The Logan Albert Conservation Association and nearby residents objected to industrial construction due to concerns about biodiversity loss, particularly threatened and endangered species such as koalas, spotted-tailed quolls, and cockatoos. However, the Queensland government ultimately approved the North Maclean site for construction to make way for its Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area (PDA).

The Flagstone Logistics Estate is located within the PDA, which the government expects will enable the development of more than 50,000 homes.

Economic Development Queensland approved Amazon’s application to build at Flagstone in 35 business days, which the Crisafulli government claimed was one of the fastest Amazon has received for a development of its scale and complexity.

Development sites such as Flagstone are in short supply, according to Ray White Commercial research.

In Greater Sydney, there are 20,210 hectares of zoned employment land, but just 631 hectares of undeveloped land – or just 9 per cent of all undeveloped stock – have access to water and sewer connections.

“As the logistics industry moves toward AI-driven automation that demands larger, more technically specified facilities, the land capable of accommodating those buildings is further from the city than ever,” said Vanessa Rader, Ray White Group’s head of research.