CASE STUDY
Woolworths Melbourne Fresh Distribution Centre, 85 Foundation Road, Truganina VIC
Certifications – Buildings and Developments
Food Distribution
A 5 Green Star rating for this energy conscious, temperature controlled and all-electric facility.
Woolworths Melbourne Fresh Distribution Centre – now featuring reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while delivering fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and chilled products to more than 230 Victorian supermarkets. Retaining food quality, improving delivery times and reducing overall carbon footprint.
APPROACH & SOLUTION
SDC’s strategy was keenly focused on how we could reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and improve operational performance. Our approach led to the decision for the project to be ambitiously all electric – with the building including a substantial 1.5MW solar array. Utilising this self-generated electricity off-sets a large proportion of the energy required to run a large temperature-controlled facility such as this significantly sized site.
The centre includes distribution, infrastructure and logistics improvements such as electric truck charging and internal charging for the internal fleet of all-electric handling equipment for warehousing onsite. These not only replace the impact of gas-powered equipment used in Woolworths prior facility, but also eliminate exhaust gases previously emitting directly into spaces occupied by warehouse staff.
The project achieved a 5 Star Green Star rating target using the Design & As Built v1.2 rating tool. This was based on key features and strategies such as:
- High-spec building fabric
- 158kL rainwater storage tanks for toilet flushing, irrigation and truck washing
- Drought tolerant landscaping & irrigation system
- 1.5MW solar PV system
- Air bridge to neighbouring meat processing plant (reducing numerous truck trips – approximately 600 routes eliminated from the West Gate weekly)
- Electric truck and materials handling equipment charging onsite
BUILDING SUMMARY
- Total Area of approximately 27,270m2 of temperature controlled warehousing
- 5,678m2 of ambient warehouse
- 2,700m2 of office space
- Multi-level car park and 61,000m2 of hardstand space
SUSTAINABILITY SNAPSHOT
5 Star
Green Star Rating
Solar PV
system 1.5MW
Rainwater storage
tanks 158kL
264% reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions
5 Star
Green Star Rating
Solar PV
system 1.5MW
Rainwater storage
tanks 158kL
264% reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions
PROJECT PARTNERS
Woolworths – Client
Vaughan Constructions – Construction
Watson Young Architects – Architecture
Custom Air Conditioning – Air Conditioning
Apex Electrical & Communications – Electrical
Cormack Plumbing – Plumbing