Surrendering autonomy on housing policy in the most exciting and adventurous new stages of Parramatta’s metamorphosis into the 21st century, the city council will today surely shock most voters, who placed much trust in their December 2021 promises of a locally-inspired renaissance, to be achieved with their professed leadership excellence. (Parra housing revolution, 26/10). With a federal government-induced mass migration on the horizon, it was only a matter of time before skylines were impacted. With major economic weaknesses in the building industry, compounded by excessive empowerment of a myriad of alienated self-interested parties, surely the solution is less state government control, not more. Illogically, the reason for the state government to intervene is to override all the legislative hurdles they introduced in the first place to council’s efficient execution of policy. Having an empowered local government, sensitive to the instincts of an intelligent electorate would have saved Willow Grove and the Royal Oak Hotel. Most would agree with multi-level apartment blocks between Victoria Rd and Pennant Hills Rd. But the public should be embraced as part of the process through council, not bypassed with the anonymous dominance of far-off Macquarie St. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 27Oct2023.