The belated apology is another embarrassment for Mr Constance following the Ferry McFerryface saga and the poor performance of Sydney trains. But it may not appease Penny Hackett, the secretary of the Federation of Willoughby Progress Associations, who likened information coming from the transport minister and his bureaucrats to an episode of Yes, Minister or Utopia. “The process for the sale of this site has been anything but transparent,” Ms Hackett said. “It appears that our community and the Premier was given inaccurate information by Transport for NSW and we believe this should be fully investigated.” A spokeswoman for Ms Berejiklian said: “It is understood this advice was incorrect, and the minister’s office has apologised. The premier will continue to follow this up with the minister’s office to ensure her constituents get the correct information.” Expansion of the Chatswood bus interchange is vital, according to the Willoughby City Council. Credit:Wolter Peeters

The sale of 1-5 Railway Street is also controversial because it appears to have proceeded against the advice of Willoughby City Council and the Greater Sydney Commission. Mr Constance’s spokeswoman said: “Transport for NSW has advised the site is not suitable for providing additional bus layover facilities.” But it was identified in a 2016 council report as a potential site to expand the existing bus interchange. The Chatswood CBD Draft Planning and Urban Design Strategy also provided an illustrative concept for a new bus interchange under 1-5 Railway St. “The site at 1-5 Railway St has the opportunity to contribute to the pedestrian and transport objectives for this space,” the report said.

The site, also known as Chatswood Central, is on the western side of the T1 North Shore Train Line. A council spokeswoman said 1-5 Railway Street had been identified as key to improving Chatswood’s overcrowded bus interchange. “When council became aware of the sale, representations were made by council officers, together with officers of the Greater Sydney Commission (including the North District Commissioner), to Transport for NSW highlighting the need for expansion of the bus interchange and the role this site plays,” she said. Council officers told transport bureaucrats in August 2017 that the availability of 1-5 Railway Street for bus interchange improvements was "vital", she said. “The existing arrangement where buses use Railway St bus stops reflects that the existing bus interchange has reached capacity,” she said.