Staff knowledge lost?

A former Baw Baw Shire mayor has questioned council on how it was dealing with the loss of staff knowledge following a major organisation restructure this year.

The restructure saw the loss of a number of long serving employees from the organisation when their positions were made redundant.

Ruth McDonald raised a number of questions about the restructure process in March, at which time chief executive officer Helen Anstis deemed the questions inappropriate because matters were before Fair Work Commission.

During question time last week, Mrs McDonald said many of her initial questions about the cost of the restructure had since been answered through reports in The Gazette.

But, she said, she still wanted to know how council had dealt with the loss of corporate knowledge, particularly in the planning department.

Chief executive officer Helen Anstis said the departure of staff from across the organisation occurred on a regular basis.

“When any officer leaves the organisation there is obviously an inability to access information directly from the individual but as with all matters Baw Baw Shire Council deals with there is a file and subject matter system in place to capture and record data and knowledge to ensure the business is able to continue to operate.

“The planning team benefits from a long history of data and knowledge capture as well as a state wide standardised planning system.

“This enables existing and new staff now and in the future to continue to facilitate planning matters,” Ms Anstis said.