Shock staff cuts in sudden SDRC ‘restructuring’, management affected

SDRC CEO Dave Burges reveals how many council staff will be impacted by the ‘restructuring’ and why they could be left without a job.

JOB CUTS: Six positions have been made redundant in a shock “restructuring” at SDRC. Picture: Kerri Moore / Warwick Daily News

Up to six Southern Downs Regional Council employees could lose their jobs as part of a sudden “restructuring” of the organisation.

The shock move has seen two management positions condensed into one and another five positions cut across the economic development, built environment, and planning and development departments.

SDRC chief executive officer Dave Burges said the process of merging the management roles had been “finalised”, with one person “no longer working for (the) council”.

“It’s just to streamline and provide a sharper focus in the delivery of some of our services,” he said.

“It’s not meant to be a budgetary fix, as it won’t have a very significant impact on our budget. There will be a saving, but it will be modest.

“Although five positions have been made redundant, three new positions have been created, and those and any other vacant positions within the organisation have been made available (to affected employees).”

He would not confirm how much money would be saved in the cuts.

Southern Downs Regional Council CEO Dave Burges revealed the details of a sudden “restructuring” at the organisation. Picture: file

Mr Burges said the vacancies would be opened to external applicants if they were or could not be filled by the existing SDRC employees.

He added that four of the six cuts came from within the economic development sector, but would not reveal the new positions as it “would give an indication of who has been made redundant”.

Impacted SDRC staff members will have until Friday to register their interest for another council role.

The CEO said a new “organisational development group” would also be formed as part of the restructuring, bringing dozens of current council staff into the one forum.

“(It’s) a cross-section of staff from across the entire organisation to facilitate communication and take a look into issues across the (council),” Mr Burges said.

“It doesn’t include anyone at a manager or director level, because I want to touch base and be attuned to the needs and aspirations at the grassroots level across the organisation.”

Job vacancies currently advertised on the SDRC website include a senior economic development coordinator, heavy vehicle or mobile plant mechanic, and a water or wastewater technical officer.