Region. New directors for river authority

The NSW Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt, has appointed two new directors to the board of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, for a three-year term. Kathy Ridge, an environmental lawyer, with Ridge and Associates, has headed up a number of statewide environmental organisations. John Verhoeven, a consultant, has 24 years experience in water and natural resource management. The new appointees replace Kenny Smith and Ken Wheelwright.

Lidcombe. Nick Scali's sales downturn

Furniture retailer Nick Scali Limited, at Lidcombe, announced a net profit after tax of $2.5 million for the half year ended December 131. The result was achieved in very difficult trading conditions, which saw a decline in sales revenue of 8 per cent to $39.9 million and pressure on gross margin as a result of the rapid depreciation of the Australian dollar in the period. The company said sales in January, traditionally the industry’s biggest trading month were down 2 per cent overall and 6.5 percent on a comparative store basis, compared with last year. Forecasting trading results for the full 2008/09 year ”remains difficult”.

Penrith. New govt office in the CBD

The newly created Office of the Hawkesbury/Nepean River is expected to move into the NSW Government’s new $46 million, seven-storey office building in Penrith, in March, to coordinate a range of government programs to improve the health of the river system. The office will report directly to the director general, of the Department of Water and Energy and the Minister for Water. The Office of Fair Trading, the Department of Community Services and the Sydney Catchment Authority have moved from elsewhere in Penrith to the new building. The building accommodates 450 employees.