After almost 2 years of legal battles, The New South Wales Government has abandoned the forced amalgamation of Strathfield, Canada Bay and Burwood Councils.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement earlier today in a press conference.

“The Government’s merger policy has always been about putting ratepayers first and it has become increasingly clear that certain councils are happy to continue lengthy and costly legal proceedings,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Other proposed mergers of Mosman, Willoughby, North Sydney, Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Ryde, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby, Woollahra, Randwick and Waverly will also no longer go ahead.