Council rezones parts of Melrose Park, Ermington for more than 1900 homes
A development tipped to house one of Sydney’s densest populations is pushing ahead despite critics saying it fails the pub test.
Parramatta
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A “New York City” style waterfront development in Melrose Park and Ermington has edged closer to winning final approval after a rezoning decision allowed towers to soar to 77m.
Holdmark Property Group first filed plans for the development, to hug the banks of the Parramatta River at Wharf Rd and Waratah St in Melrose Park and Hughes Ave, Ermington, in 2016.
Parramatta Council last week deferred making a decision to rezone the land near the arterial Victoria Rd from industrial to high-density residential after a barrage of criticism.
Councillors labelled it an overdevelopment that failed to provide enough affordable homes or a guarantee the light rail stage two would be built to serve 14,000 residents who would live in the development.
But the rezoning was endorsed at Monday’s meeting.
Independent councillor Kellie Darley slammed the proposal for being worse than housing projects planned for Telopea and North Rocks.
She said the council had rejected those, “yet there isn’t the same outrage” for Melrose Park.
“In actual reality it’s even worse than those examples,’’ she said.
“Currently, the Melrose Park precinct, when you look at the population density, it’s going to be double that of Wentworth Point currently.’’
“When you look at it as a suburb, Melrose Park is actually going to be the same density as New York City. This is a significant overdevelopment of our area in the middle of suburbia.’’
The tallest tower will be 77m or 22 storeys while in Telopea, which will have 4700 extra dwellings and be built around the light rail, the tallest block will be 60m.
Cr Darley said some heights rose by 55 per cent from original plans and despite the state government having the final say on the plans, the council could have refused the rezoning, which would have stunted building heights.
She cited an example of a 1088-apartment block planned for a former putt putt golf site at Victoria Rd.
“They’re already parking in the streets, it’s already having an impact on Victoria Rd, so to think that we’re going to have 14,000 more people and it’s going to have no impact is beyond reasonable to think that – it fails the pub test, I would say,’’ she said.
Holdmark was approached for comment.
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