CouriersPlease has unveiled the first of three new mega facilities to open in 2024. The 15,550sqm depot in Dandenong South, Melbourne, replaces the courier service’s smaller Mulgrave facility.
The expansion will enable CouriersPlease to meet its surging parcel volumes in Melbourne, and support the growth of eretail alongside its network of Melbourne franchisees.
Over the next six months, CouriersPlease (CP) will also open a new 28,644sqm depot in Sydney’s Pemulwuy and a 5400sqm depot in Perth’s High Wycombe.
The new facilities will expand CP’s total square metre space across 18 depots in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, the Gold Coast, Wollongong, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong.
Eco depots meet Green Star Standard
The Dandenong South depot meets the Green Star standard and As Built ratings in accordance with the Green Building Council of Australia. It also includes rainwater reuse infrastructure, energy-efficient fittings, solar hot water, LED lighting and light harvesting.
The Perth and Sydney facilities will also be built to meet the Green Star standard. The Perth depot, set to open in April 2024, will have provisions for future solar panel installations, rainwater harvesting and electric car charging points.
When the Sydney facility opens (planned for May 2024) it will feature rainwater reuse systems; a 300kW solar system, solar hot water systems, recycled asphalt made from recycled plastic bags, glass and printer cartridges, bicycle parking, native landscaping, and five electric vehicle charging stations in the car park.
CP CEO Richard Thame said the goal is to advance sustainable development with every new facility. Among the initiatives, CP is trialling electric delivery vans, and enhancing internal ventilation to reduce the need for heating and cooling.
CouriersPlease has partnered with end-to-end supply chain and property experts TMX to oversee the depot builds.
Strategic mission
Thame said “Our strong metro fleet will help us continue capitalising on the growth of ecommerce in capital cities, while our expanding regional footprint will provide a better service for the many Australians that have moved to regional areas in recent years,” he said.
“These depots are part of our strategic mission to expand our depot space nationally to meet growing parcel volumes and help grow our franchisees’ businesses.”
In the last two years, the company significantly expanded its franchise network to more than 800 territories across the country. The business was also recognised as a 5-Star rated franchise last year.
CP parcel volumes increased by a record 20 per cent in 2023, as it celebrated 40 years in business and launched a brand refresh with a new red-and-white colourway.
