Peninsula left exposed to bushfires, union claims

The Peninsula will be left exposed to bushfires at the peak of summer due to the loss of the National Parks regional manager for the Hunter Central Coast, Mr Geoff Luscombe, according to the Public Service Association.

His departure, scheduled for December 16 unless he decides to leave earlier, is due to a restructure of National Park operations by the Office of Environment and Heritage.

The number of National Park regions across NSW was reduced from 14 down to eight.

All Regional Managers, critical in fire management and hazard-reduction burns, were required to apply for their positions in the shake-up.

A large number were unsuccessful which will see up to 300 years of expertise walk out of NSW National Parks by Christmas, according to the association's general secretary, Mr Stewart Little.

Mr Luscombe was one of those casualties.

"This decision to remove dedicated, highly experienced staff from the organisation without transition arrangements in place at the start of the fire season is nothing short of grossly irresponsible," said Mr Little.

"The Government's assault on this workforce is nothing less than a direct attack on public safety with bush firefighting plans either never being approved or hastily signed off with insufficient care due to staff shortages.

"National Parks' staff are front-line fire fighters all over the state protecting lives, private property, forestry, homes, pastures - the lot.

"They stand shoulder to shoulder with Fire and Rescue and the Rural Fire Service.

"As well as fire-fighting skills, the departing managers take with them a wealth of knowledge regarding the operations of the State's national parks.

"These skills are learned on the ground, not in a classroom, so it will take years to replace the knowledge we are about to lose," said Mr Little.

Media release, 21 Nov 2016

Ali Donaldson, Public Service Association