Construction began on 4 March on ‘The YARDS’, a major industrial and logistics community at Kemps Creek in Western Sydney.
The new precinct is a joint venture between Frasers Property Industrial, Aware Super and Altis Property Partners. With an end value of $1bn, will be a benchmark in Australian industrial development and cements the region as a key distribution hub in New South Wales. Strategically located on the corner of Mamre Road and the future Southern Link Road in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, the development is Australia’s first industrial community. It is also one of Sydney’s largest industrial developments, spanning 70 hectares.
The development will provide a significant boost to the Western Sydney economy and become a key employment hub for the region. In total, The YARDS is expected to generate over 3,500 jobs during construction and after completion, helping to fulfil the NSW Government’s objectives for growth in the region and the creation of the 30-minute city.
Frasers Property Industrial CEO Reini Otter and Aware Super CIO Damian Graham were joined on 4 March by NSW Minister for Jobs, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres, Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies and Mayor of Penrith, Cr Karen McKeown OAM, for a ‘Turning of the Sod’ ceremony on site.
“This major industrial and logistics community is an important investment in the future of Western Sydney and its fantastic to see it start construction,” said Minister Ayres. “It will create thousands of jobs, provide critical new social infrastructure for the area and ultimately lead the region to being a key distribution hub for New South Wales.”
The YARDS will accommodate approximately 400,000sqm of next-generation sustainable warehouse and logistics facilities, with a focus on creating a vibrant and healthy work environment for customers and their employees. The precinct will also deliver important social infrastructure to the area including retail amenity, public sporting fields and food and beverage offerings.
Market-leading sustainability measures will feature in the industrial community, including onsite solar power generation, a rainwater capture and reuse system and a significant planting scheme with local and native flora, with all facilities targeting a Green Building Council of Australia 6-Star Green Star rating.
The precinct has already attracted significant commercial interest from major tech, light manufacturing, warehousing and logistics companies. Practical completion of Stage 1 of The YARDS is scheduled for early 2022.