Region. Move into consultancy

Alex Gooding, who resigned as executive director, late last year, of the local government lobby group, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), based in Blacktown, has established a consultancy, Gooding Davies Consultancy Pty Ltd, with his wife, Fiona Davies, in Lawson. Mr Gooding, who spent 17 years with the organisation including 12 in the top job, will combine his 25 years experience of advocacy, research and strategic planning in Western Sydney with his wife’s background in providing advice and project management services to corporate sector clients through the consultancy firm she established, in 1986, to provide a range of services to councils, government and the corporate and community sectors.

Blacktown. Wattyl may close ageing plant

The Wattyl Group could shut down its ageing plant at Blacktown and other properties, and cut the company’s workforce of 1400, to reduce a $100 million debt facility, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. A company statement said that second-half earnings, before interest and tax, would be about $8 million to $9 million, a fall of 20 per cent on the year. The Wattyl Group has its national office in Norwest Business Park.

Sydney Olympic Park. A sign of the times

The hotel sector is a among restaurants, airlines, retailers, tourism operators and others offering bargains to attract trade. For example, the room rate at Accor’s five-star Pullman property, at Sydney Olympic Park, usually at $250 per night, will drop to $79, during a promotion from April 1 to July 31 Rooms at the Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis hotels around Australia, must booked on February 24, 25, and 26. “We anticipate the first half of the year is going to be weak, particularly from the corporate and conference sector,” said Peter Hook, a spokesman for Accor, Australia’s largest hotelier, the Weekend Australian Financial Review.