Construction has started at the new $1 billion Deer Park Estate in Melbourne’s west, with building underway for a distribution centre for Asahi Beverages.
The 340,000 square metre industrial estate, located 15 kilometres west of Melbourne’s CBD, was announced in February 2024 and is owned by $160 billion superannuation fund UniSuper. Once complete, it will offer state-of-the-art facilities with strategic links via arterial roads to Melbourne’s planned intermodal freight precincts, the Port of Melbourne, Melbourne Airport, other industrial and retail precincts, and households.
To mark the start of construction, Asahi Beverages general manager Manufacturing and Project Delivery Adrian Benson attended an event with Nick Stephens from UniSuper, Luke Wilson from developer HB+B Property, and Chris Davis from real estate investment manager The GPT Group.
Asahi’s new distribution centre will take around three years to complete and will help provide more efficient service to its customers. The project is part of Asahi’s plan to simplify its Victorian warehousing and distribution network and does not affect any manufacturing operations.
“The location of the Deer Park Estate and its easy access to nearby major roads makes this a highly strategic location for our new distribution centre,” said Benson.
“It will increase the efficiency and productivity of Asahi’s operations. We’re pleased to be making this long-term commitment to Victoria.
“More than 95 per cent of the beverages we sell in Australia are made by us in Australia, with the new distribution centre meaning more customers can receive our full range of alcohol and non-alcohol beverages faster and more efficiently, with one order, one payment and delivery on one truck.
“The more efficient distribution routes created by the project will also create sustainability benefits, including the expected reduction of Asahi’s CO2 emissions from trucks.”
The new building is targeting a 5 Star Green Star Buildings rating, representing Australian excellence in healthier and more responsible buildings.