Sartor may drop controversial planning reform

Parramatta City Council’s interest in the Court of Appeal’s decision, expected next month, on whether it can compulsory acquire private property for its proposed $1.4 billion Civic Place project, will be heightened with a report in The Sydney Morning Herald. Following rising opposition, the paper said the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, was expected to drop the controversial planning reform allowing state and local governments to acquire such properties to sell to developers.