Blacktown. Wattyl paint plant at risk

One of Australia’s leading paint groups, the Wattyl Group, which has its national office, in Norwest Business Park, told The Sydney Morning Herald the company could not continue to run all three of its paint plants, in Melbourne’s Footscray, Kilburn in northern Adelaide and the largest and ageing Blacktown plant, in Sydney’s west. The paper said the likely close of Blacktown for an estimated $40 million to $50 million was money “the company does not have and is unlikely to have for a year”.

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.