Australia Post – 112 Pilbara Str

PS Structures was engaged for the design and construction of the new Australia Post Distribution Centre located in Welshpool, WA. The construction of the new facility aims to optimise and expedite the Australia Post services throughout Perth by integrating the services of several facilities to one operation.

The new distribution centre a 22,500m² high specification warehouse is apportioned as follows:

7,500m² is utilised as van pickup and delivery (PUD).
15,000m² housing the integrated automation system consisting of 2 separate conveyor sorting systems (1 x Larger Parcel sorter and 1 x Small Parcel sorter)
Within the automation area there is a 2,500m² concrete mezzanine deck to accommodate the large conveyor loop.
Externally, a 16-bay sunken loading dock under an 8,000m² super canopy has been provided to accommodate the numerous deliveries and pickups that will occur on a daily basis.
Australia Post PUD personnel, have a dedicated mezzanine office within the PUD warehouse for the van drivers.
A 2,000m² twin storey main office to cater for the remainder of the administration staff based at the facility.

A key milestone on the project was the early handover, end of January 2022, of the warehouse areas to the automation contractor, BEUMER. Thus, leaving seven months from commencement of the project remaining to complete the extensive portion of the works.

The structure determined the critical path, which in this instance was hampered due to the following:

A high-water table across the site ranging from 0.7m – 1.8m. This affected 80% of the main warehouse footings due to their size as well as the excavation of the 2,800m² loading dock which at its lowest point was below the existing ground water level. Due to the size of the loading dock, there was a risk that the high-water table would lift and crack the slabs and essentially flood the dock. To overcome this issue, a bespoke subsoil drainage system was introduced to alleviate the upward pressure of the water table on the loading dock slabs.
Construction commenced in July 2021 and the months that followed were hindered by consistent rainfall resulting in the second highest annual rainfall on record. This further compounded the high-water table issues. No inground works could take place without dewatering spears in place resulting in dewatering required across the site for any inground works including hydraulic services, stormwater drainage, fire services etc.
Covid 19 which affected material availability, prices, and labour resources across the construction industry. The warehouse and office required +/- 700T of steel, the early procurement of the materials was essential to the success of this project.

The office and warehouse structures, although seemingly adjoined, were constructed as separately due to the risk of differential settlement as a result of the poor ground conditions. The office consists of a traditional ground floor slab and hollowcore suspended slab with a structural steel roof frame. Glazing and CFC cladding cover the bulk of the façade finished off with an impressive feature mesh screening to all elevations.

CLIENT:
PILBARA STREET PTY LTD

ARCHITECT:
PILBARA STREET PTY LTD