Cyclone role dumped as Burdekin retrenches staff

UP to seven Burdekin Shire Council staff will be made redundant in a restructure that council says will help it become more sustainable.

It is understood the axed positions include disaster management co- ordinator, a role that has been instrumental in coordinating cyclone preparation and recovery over the years.

Mayor Bill Lowis yesterday refused to reveal the numbers or roles, but confirmed council was “trimming our structures down” to make its budget more feasible in the long- term.

“It’s about restructuring so we get better out of the people we have.”

The employees were told this week their positions would not be continued.

The news comes after the Burdekin Shire Council handed down its $ 67 million budget last month, which included an average general rate increase of 6.5 per cent.

Cr Lowis hinted then at impending saving measures, saying “sustainability must raise the issue of affordability”.

He said yesterday the redundancies were necessary and some of those to lose their jobs had been working at council for a long time.

“Council has to look at it in the best possible result for ratepayers in the long term,” he said.

“And sometimes, organisations get a little bit too large over time.

“We’ve had a fairly high increase in rates this year and a lot of that chews into the way things have been managed. We’re trimming our structures down so we can gain some reduction in that and increase in the longer term it’s more feasible.

“There’s change going on all the time and it’s hard for someone who’s worked at council for a long time.”

The last Burdekin Shire Council restructure was about eight years ago.

Cr Lowis said the roles being made redundant were no longer needed.

He said the restructure plan, which would go to council on Friday, was in the hands of CEO Matthew Magin, who took over the job in April.

He could not be contacted last night.