Melrose Park, Ermington: 1925 homes planned for banks of Parramatta River

A development on the banks of the Parramatta River will be a ‘nightmare’ and has elicited a raft of criticisms including that homes will have the ‘density of free range hens’. Find out the latest.

Ambitions to transform an industrial zone into a waterfront neighbourhood with 1925 dwellings at Melrose Park have hit the brakes after it faced a wave of criticism over the lack of affordable housing and no light rail guarantee.

On Monday, Parramatta Council deferred the decision to rezone parts of the land at Wharf Rd, Waratah St at Melrose Park and Hughes Ave, Ermington, from industrial to high-density residential as part of the massive Holdmark Property Group’s project.

Concerns about building heights, infrastructure provision, potential traffic impacts and character loss were identified as key issues.

Subject to approval, the Parramatta River proposal in the booming Melrose Park growth precinct, would allow high density homes to be built on former industrial land and progress the project, which the state government will determine.

Apartment blocks ranging from six to 22 storeys would replace pharmaceutical, engineering and plastics manufacturers.

Homes will replace industrial work sites but building heights and potential traffic impacts are key concerns.

The precinct is slated to have 6300 homes by 2036 and 11,000 dwellings after that date.

Labor councillor Paul Noack called for more affordable housing on the site and said between five and 10 per cent of the dwellings should be affordable.

“This is a social responsibility,” he said.

Independent Kellie Darley raised objections following public feedback attracting 85 submissions, with 77 per cent opposing the development, three per cent in support and 20 per cent neutral.

“I agree this was identified as a growth precinct, but I question the level of density that’s required, I question the staging around the public infrastructure, I question the fact that we haven’t pushed for more affordable housing,” she said.

Cr Darley worried it would turn into another Wentworth Point, which is beset by a lack of public transport and parks.

“I think it’s important that we get that right for this community,” she said.

“There’s no commitment to providing the light rail at the moment … we’re going to end up with people not being able to access public transport, there isn’t the parking spaces, and we’re going to already end up with the mess that we’re already having in Wentworth Point.”

The yellow spots are earmarked for development while the red zone is where Melrose Park Public School stands.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis also rejected the proposal, saying just 1.2 per cent of units would be secured as affordable housing.

“The affordable housing that we need to deliver in our city to support the growing population is immense, and we need to find mechanisms to be able to address that affordable housing need,’’ she said.

A total of 24 units will be dedicated to the council. However, it is not mandatory for the developer to provide affordable housing.

Cr Davis said the development, for which plans were first lodged in 2016, was reliant on the second stage of Parramatta light rail being rolled out but “not a dollar” had been committed to the transport link.

So far, the state government has only pledged to build a 1.3km bridge over the river to connect Wentworth Point to Melrose Park.

The riverside development will be neighbours with the $700m Melrose Central development, where a private hospital, a six-tower apartment complex and a childcare centre are earmarked.

Greens councillor Phil Bradley rejected the plans and likened the number of units to the “density of free-range hens”.

Labor councillor Patricia Prociv echoed calls for the light rail, more playing fields and affordable housing.

“Melrose Park is a nightmare waiting to happen,’’ she said.

The council is due to discuss the matter again at its meeting next Monday.