The transactions shine a light on the extensive links between politicians and developers in parts of Sydney, underscoring the potential electoral difficulty to be faced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian in overcoming community scepticism about development. Mr Anisse, who is no longer a Hornsby councillor, now works for the state government as the program director for government developer UrbanGrowth NSW’s Parramatta North redevelopment. Mr Issa, a long-standing Parramatta councillor who served as the Member for Granville between 2011 and 2015, has said he is running for the state seat again at the personal request of Ms Berejiklian. Mr Issa’s son, Steven Issa, has been a Parramatta councillor since 2012 and is on the state executive of the NSW Liberal Party. Steven Issa said he has never voted on any proposals in which his father, or any family member, had an interest. After Frank Anisse’s company sold the 39 Marion Street site to Mr Ayoub and Mr Hamdan’s company, he also took out a caveat on the property to protect a loan he made to the purchasers.

Mr Anisse removed this caveat in May 2017, two days before the developers lodged a planning proposal to increase building heights on 33-43 Marion Street. The proposal would increase building heights from 12 metres to 102 metres, and increase the floor space ratio from 2:1 to 10:1. This 33-43 Marion Street development site has since been put up for off-market sale for the past year for around $50 million. Developers have submitted a planning proposal for a 110m tower at 33-43 Marion St Parramatta, but heritage experts have argued against the rezoning. Credit:Janie Barrett A majority of Parramatta councillors, including Steven Issa, have pushed to allow the rezoning. But they have been opposed by some staff in the City of Parramatta’s planning division, who commissioned reports recommending that heights remained lowered to protect heritage homes in the street. The state government’s approval would be needed to rezone the site, and mid last year the Department of Planning said more work was needed to justify the rezoning. Declarations made by Antony Anisse to Parramatta Council while he was employed show that he disclosed his role in the company, Asticus Pty Ltd, which contracted to buy and lodged a caveat over 39 Marion St. But he did not disclose Asticus’ interest over the property.

Antony Anisse said the property was “not related” to his work as a Parramatta staff member; that he “did not fail to disclose any matter that would give rise to a conflict of interest;” and that he was not required to disclose interests held by relatives. Asked how his father came to purchase the property, Antony Anisse said he could not comment on his father’s behalf. Frank Anisse did not respond to requests for comment, other than to say “this is a private transaction”. Tony Issa quit being a director and shareholder of Asticus less than a month after opening the company. He said he had been looking for work after leaving Parliament, but “it didn’t work out”. “I didn’t buy it. In business sometimes it doesn’t work,” Mr Issa said. The City of Parramatta said Mr Anisse and other staff in the property team were not involved in the preparation of the CBD Planning Strategy, which incorporated the potential rezoning.

The former head of planning at Parramatta, Sue Weatherly, left the council following the appointment of Mark Stapleton as chief executive of the council on the back of a controversial 8-7 vote among councillors in June. But a majority of councillors later voted to suspend Mr Stapleton on full pay while the council investigated questions raised in the Herald about Mr Stapleton’s resume. The council says the investigation should be concluded this month. Hot property 2015

March 28: Liberal Member for Granville Tony Issa loses seat in state election.

April 27: Parramatta City Councillors, including Tony’s son Steven Issa, endorse draft Parramatta CBD Planning Strategy. The strategy proposes rezoning Marion St, Parramatta, to a 6:1 floor space ratio, subject to “urban design testing/refinement” over following four months. May 5: Tony Issa and Antony Anisse, a senior property development manager at Parramatta Council and Liberal Hornsby councillor, register a company called ‘Asticus.’ May 11: Asticus contracts to purchase 39 Marion Street, Parramatta. Two days later, Asticus lodges a caveat to protect its interest. The conveyancing, and all conveyancing below, is handled by Lionheart Lawyers. June 1: Tony Issa stops being a director and shareholder in Asticus. September 29: Asticus withdraws caveat over 39 Marion St. A separate company owned by Antony's father Frank Anisse called ‘Sustainable Future Fund’ lodges caveat over the same property, pursuant to contract dated September 26.

December: Council receives report by heritage consultant Stephen Davies from Urbis recommending against rezoning that part of Marion St above 2:1 FSR because of nearby heritage homes. Council staff report echoes Davies’ concerns. December 14: Despite the above report, majority of councillors vote to endorse draft Parramatta CBD Planning Strategy, which includes a 6:1 FSR at Marion St. 2016 March 1: Sustainable Future Fund purchases 39 Marion St from company called Nahoto $1.75m. On the same day, Sustainable Future Fund sells 39 Marion St to CN Marion Pty Ltd for $3m. CN Marion borrows from Sustainable Future Fund, and Sustainable Future Fund later lodges caveat over the property to protect its loan.

April 11: Council adopts the Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal.

2017 May 9: Sustainable Future Fund withdraws caveat over 39 Marion St. May 11: Developer Masscon, owned by the owners of CN Marion, lodge a planning proposal over 33-43 Marion St, proposing to increase building heights from 12m to 102m, and maximum FSR from 2:1 to 10:1. July 10: Under the control of an administrator, City of Parramatta resolves to revert back to 2:1 FSR at the relevant section of Marion St because of heritage concerns. December 11: Back under the control of elected councillors, the City of Parramatta resolves to revert to a 6:1 FSR at 33-43 Marion St, while removing all height limits.