The need to meet Government spending cut requirements means the Department of Conservation (DOC) will be cutting a net 71 support roles around the country, many in small rural towns.

DOC confirmed to staff today that it will be disestablishing 143 support roles and creating 72 new positions, meaning a net reduction of 71 roles. Of the 72 new support roles, 25 are half-time.

Removing support staff, who monitor the radios used by DOC staff working away from the office to stay safe, poses health and safety risks, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.

"The current support staff have sizeable health and safety responsibilities, such as monitoring staff radio systems and helping to manage emergencies like fires. The loss of these team members will mean that these important duties will fall on others - and pose a significant health and safety risk.

"DOC Rangers, contractors and volunteers rely on the radios to stay in regular contact with their offices and ensure they can get help if they run into trouble," Fitzsimons says.

"It’s one example of how the loss of business support staff will mean administrative work will have to be done by other DOC staff.

"This will mean they have less time to focus on vital work like protecting threatened species, repairing tracks and pest control," Fitzsimons says.

The cuts also mean the public will no longer be able to access DOC offices, apart from Visitors’ Centres, because the loss of support staff will mean there will be no one to manage reception.

"A farmer in town for errands will no longer be able to drop into the DOC office to talk with staff about matters of concern. A wealth of local knowledge and wisdom will be lost with the axing of support staff," Fitzsimons says.

"Downgrading 25 roles to half-time is a blow to the many workers who cannot make ends meet on a part time salary, and who in small towns will struggle to find other work.

"The majority of the roles being cut are carried out by women. This is another graphic example of how the burden of the Government’s squeeze on public service funding is falling disproportionally on women. At the same time as the Government stopped pay equity claims for more than 150,000 underpaid, mainly female workers including claims that cover DOC workers," Fitzsimons says.

DOC has told staff it accepts that part time resourcing will not be sufficient in all offices and sites but having one or more full time staff in these roles in all sites is unaffordable. It would mean DOC could not make the $5.5 million in annual savings required to manage ongoing cost pressures within its baseline, as required by the Government.

The continued squeeze on DOC funding ultimately puts its projects - and New Zealand’s natural environment - at risk, Fitzsimons says.

"Systematically under-funding DOC will unfortunately mean they’ll be unable to deliver as well as they can for New Zealand conservation. This Government’s spending priorities are clear: landlords and big corporates are in, but women and the environment are out."

Other PSA releases on DOC:

Govt funding squeeze sees DOC propose cutting 84 roles

Govt squeeze on funding will see another 68 roles go at DOC

Govt forces DOC to shed 130 jobs despite fragile state of natural environment

Cuts to DOC will impact its valuable work

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