A new freight processing facility has opened at Melbourne Avalon Airport, supporting hundreds of jobs across cargo handling, warehousing and distribution.
Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks today opened the $8 million facility which will provide a new gateway for international freight and speed up delivery times.
The state-of-the-art facility is capable of processing 100,000 tonnes of cargo - a tenfold increase on current levels.
The facility will operate 24 hours a day and be equipped with advanced scanning technology - making it one of the first airports in Australia to comply with the new Border Force security screening standards, allowing arriving freight to be processed faster.
The facility will process sets and equipment for the upcoming Lady Gaga and concerts. It will also handle motorsport freight for major events such as MotoGP, Formula 1 and World Superbikes.
The facility will help ease congestion on roads by reducing the number of trucks currently transporting freight between Melbourne Avalon Airport and Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and will benefit from better road connections when the West Gate Tunnel opens in late 2025.
The new freight processing centre is part of the Greater Avalon Employment Precinct and will bolster its role as an economic hub for the surrounding areas. The freight and logistics industry keeps Victoria moving and employs more than 260,000 Victorians.
As stated by Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks
"This new freight facility will be a game-changer for Victoria, speeding up deliveries and creating new job opportunities for the region."
As stated by Minister for Roads and Freight Melissa Horne
"Avalon's new facility provides Victoria with a second international freight gateway and will help ease pressure and congestion on our roads and Melbourne International Airport."
As stated by Member for Lara Ella George
"The opening of this new facility is a win for our local community, supporting local jobs and ensuring we can get our deliveries to our homes faster."
As stated by member for Bellarine Alison Marchant
"This will be a major boost for our growing region supporting businesses and communities to get what they need sooner."
As stated by Member for Geelong Chris Couzens
"It makes sense to have Victoria's second internation freight gateway here, delivering thousands of packages across our region and the state."
As stated by Ari Suss, CEO Melbourne Avalon Airport
"This new facility reflects the strong partnership between Melbourne Avalon Airport and the State Government in building the infrastructure that underpins Victoria's trade and logistics future."
