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Holdmark Media Release - 2,404 New Homes Approved for Melrose Wharf as NSW's Largest Infill Affordable Housing Project Reaches Construction Milestone

Holdmark Group

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 28 July 2026

NSW Planning Minister joins Holdmark to celebrate a major landmark in the delivery of one of NSW's most significant new communities.

One of Sydney's biggest urban renewal projects has reached a major milestone, with the NSW Government and Holdmark today celebrating the commencement of the next stage of the $1.15 billion Melrose Wharf development.

Following its recent planning approval, the project will deliver 2,404 new homes and a range of new community benefits. It includes 378 affordable homes, comprising 354 homes secured as affordable housing for 15 years under the NSW Government's Infill Affordable Housing Policy and 24 homes dedicated to the City of Parramatta in perpetuity through Voluntary Planning Agreements.

The approval makes Melrose Wharf the largest State Significant Development approved under the NSW Government's Infill Affordable Housing pathway. It demonstrates how planning reforms are translating into real housing outcomes, combining long-term private investment with new planning incentives to deliver more homes, more affordable housing, and supporting community infrastructure in one of Sydney's fastest-growing precincts.

Melrose Wharf is being delivered alongside billions of dollars of public investment in Western Sydney, including Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 and the redevelopment of Melrose Park Public School, including a new public preschool. Together with new foreshore parks, retail, walking and cycling connections, the precinct has been planned as a complete community where residents can live close to transport, education, recreation and employment.

A Milestone for Housing Reform

Introduced in December 2023, the NSW Infill Affordable Housing Policy has become a key part of the NSW Government's broader strategy to increase housing supply in locations close to transport, jobs and services.

To commemorate today’s milestone, NSW Minister for Planning, Paul Scully joined representatives from Holdmark and the City of Parramatta to plant one of the first trees that will ultimately form part of Melrose Wharf’s new public foreshore park.

Minister Scully said, "Melrose Wharf will deliver more homes and affordable housing in a well-connected community close to transport, jobs, shops and open space."

"It’s great to see this development enter the next phase bringing us closer to more new keys in new doors so families, young people and local key workers can live in the community they choose."

Long-Term Private Investment

Holdmark has been a long-term investor in Melrose Park and has worked over many years with government, Council and the local community to help transform the former industrial precinct into one of Sydney's largest masterplanned communities. Holdmark Founder and CEO, Sarkis Nassif said the approval represents the next chapter in that long-term vision.

"Today's announcement is the culmination of years of planning and collaboration to unlock the full potential of Melrose Wharf as a community that future generations will call home,” Mr Nassif said. "It demonstrates what's possible when long-term planning is combined with the right government policy settings.”

“After years of work to secure the rezoning of the site - which will deliver more than 2.5 hectares of public open space and 24 affordable homes in perpetuity for the City of Parramatta - we've now been able to leverage the NSW Government's Infill Affordable Housing Policy to deliver a further 354 affordable homes.”

“That will help key workers like teachers, nurses and emergency services personnel live closer to where they work,” Mr Nassif said.

Melrose Wharf is expected to create 482 construction jobs and 219 ongoing operational jobs, further contributing to Western Sydney's economic growth story.

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Melrose Wharf - Project Snapshot

• $1.15 billion private investment
• 2,404 new homes
• 378 affordable homes – including 24 dedicated to Parramatta Council in perpetuity
• 482 construction jobs and 219 ongoing jobs
• More than 2.5 hectares of open space
• More than 1,100m² of retail space
• Adjacent to the redeveloped Melrose Park Public School and new public preschool
• Connected to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2

Contact details:

Todd Hayward / Mob. 0412 205 151 / [email protected]