Fresh Produce Group’s Brisbane warehouse opens its doors
FPG has recently opened another purpose-built warehouse in Brisbane, adding another property to our strategic network of sites.
Click to enlarge Robert & Susie Nugan cut the cake to mark the official opening of the new facility
Fresh Produce Groups's Executive Chairman Robert Nugan calls our’s new 4,700m2 warehouse at Brisbane Markets’ Rocklea site “the best thing that has sprung out of the ground since the flood”.
This building was officially opened in November at a function attended by staff and Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) directors, management and project team. It was just over a year since construction began on the purpose built building, at the end of the Brisbane Markets’ new western access road.
BML contracted Watpac Specialty Services to construct the $10 million warehouse after an intensive process of design development. The building features metres of insulated panel structure to support the high tech refrigerated temperature control units servicing its ripening and coolrooms.
Constructing the building had its challenges. In January 2011, floods swept through the Brisbane Markets devastating the site and halting work while a major cleanup operation began.
The water inundation had enormous impact on FPG and the whole Brisbane Markets site but it wasn’t all negative, Mr Nugan said.
“FPG stepped in to take on the pre-pack facilities formerly operated by Gollagher Bros from its flood-effected Shoebury Street premises, including restoring the equipment and moving across more than 90% of the staff,” he said.
“The result is an expanded FPG service in a construction that we have flood proofed to the best of our ability, with refrigeration units lifted above the flood line,” Mr Nugan said.
“Electrical distribution boards have been raised above the flood level and are set up to allow generator back-up.
“Should there be another flood event, we may not be untouchable but we would certainly recover quickly and be able to offer support to others who may need storage”.
The building has already been marked to assist others, with its facilities expected to be used by other Market tenants who require use of the state-of-the-art equipment.
The building contains:
- Five cold rooms that take 780 pallets.
- Four ripening and fast cooler rooms, and
- Two offices within the western and eastern wings.
Distinctive design elements include an extended awning, covered finger docks, hydraulic dock levelers, lift platforms for disabled access and extensive mezzanine offices.
FPG will consolidate its Queensland business into the new facilities with the intent of placing its pre-pack, heavy produce and imports work in the one location while keeping its trading floor in central trading area of the Brisbane Produce Market.
“The opportunity exists to support other wholesalers on site with ripening and pre-packing facilities,” Mr Nugan said.
“It’s an attractive service to have on site in a building that we are mighty proud of.”
Article courtesy of Brisbane Markets Limited.
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