Reviews of Doc services proceed

While the Department of Conservation may be able to absorb the majority of a $11.5 million cut to its budget, indications of further cuts mean reviews of its services, particularly in area offices, continue.

These follow a review last year of its conservancy offices, including the one in Dunedin, which cut 96 jobs, with the results coming into effect on July 1.

Dunedin's conservancy office, which had 38.75 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, lost 17 FTE positions but then gained 15 shared-service positions.

Doc spokesman Rory Newsam said overall Dunedin lost 2.25 FTE positions, although the impact of the changes meant some people had their roles refocused, some had moved to other centres and some had moved to Dunedin.

The changing roles meant some people were now working on national-level issues but based in Dunedin. Roles would be renamed, with staff being referred to as community and engagement advisers and community outreach advisers, to reflect Doc's emphasis on working with the community and other interested parties, he said.

This year, Doc was able to absorb most of the budget cut by using $8.7 million from a land acquisition fund it held for buying and selling small parcels of land when needed.

The fund usually sat around $1 million but had built up in recent years, allowing the department to return most of it to the Government, he said.

About $900,000 would remain in the fund for its original purpose.

The remainder of the cut would be funded by identifying efficiency improvements in its computer, vehicle fleet and bulk-buying budgets, Mr Newsam said.

This meant that the department's core work with threatened species and pest control would not be cut.

However, the department was continuing to review how it delivered programmes in outlying offices as it was facing an $8 million cut next year, he said.

It would be looking at Doc operations across the board, including staffing levels, infrastructure and property.

rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz

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