Review of Doc to axe 56 jobs

A Department of Conservation draft report is recommending culling 56 jobs, and relocating the Wellington-based Kakapo Recovery Team to Invercargill, but Doc staff are tight-lipped about the proposal.

A forecasted budget deficit of $8 million has forced the department to review its operation, and the Otago Daily Times understands the report has recommended two jobs be cut from the conservancy office in Otago and four from Southland.

Most of the job losses are expected to ome from the national office in Wellington.

The report, which was released to staff yesterday, also recommends the 10-strong Kakapo Recovery Team be relocated from Wellington to Invercargill.

Kakapo Recovery Team members referred all media inquiries to Doc, but several expressed their concern over the move.

Rising costs, such as compliance costs, firefighting costs, salary increases, ACC levies and the cost of implementing treaty settlements, resulted in the department needing to cut $8 million from its budget, 4% of the total budget.

The strategy and budget alignment review began on February 25, and staff will be making submissions on the draft document before it is finalised by late May.

Doc director-general Al Morrison told the Otago Daily Times in February he believed ''we can't save $8 million without some jobs going''.

''For Doc to fulfil its strategic purpose and direction, it must operate as an efficient and effective business.''

Doc would not comment on the number of job losses recommended in the report.

''It is too early to speculate what roles will go prior to the internal consultation process running its course. But we can say we have a commitment to our people and wherever possible in the changes proposed we would be redeploying existing staff,'' review project manager Grant
Baker said.

''Staff need time to consider the draft report and make submissions. The review team also needs time to consider those submissions before reaching final decisions.''

Forest and Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell criticised the draft report, saying it would lead to the loss of 56 positions, including the loss of three marine scientists and six technical science positions.

''If it ain't broke, don't fix it,'' he said.

''I am very disappointed about this review. It should not be happening.''

Union representatives said they had lobbied the Conservation Minister to cover the shortfall rather than see any of its 1743 Doc members made redundant.

''We put it to the minister that $8 million in Government funding is not a great deal of money, and we believe they should have another think about it,'' PSA national secretary Brenda Pilott said.

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