DPI Staff need your urgent support

The Dept of Primary Industries is undergoing a restructure. This will affect our Landcare groups, the Weed committee, and services to rural people in the following ways.

the Whitfield Catchment Officer, Brian Spencer, will lose his position at Whitfield, along with several others at Beechworth, Corryong, Ovens and Euroa in the North East. Mansfield is to be retained along with Wangaratta, Wodonga and Tallangatta.

assistance with postage to Landcare groups is to be withdrawn.

The Weed Committee executive has contacted Bill Sykes M.P. and all local politicians to seek their support in finding out....

What is to happen to employees who have lost their jobs?

What is to replace the present compliance role performed by the CMO's?

The DPI has since postponed action for two weeks.
Refer article in Border Mail and this week's Weekly Times ["DPI Jobs Chopped"] for Bill Sykes's comments.

To flesh out what exactly is being proposed a Pest Plant and Pest Animal Forum has been organised by the Ovens Landcare Network for the 19th July at the Whorouly Community Complex at 7:30pm . Officers involved in the proposed restructure will be present and the Weed Committee and other groups will make presentations of their concerns.

We are hoping for a good roll up to at least have a say in this proposed erosion to rural services.

Bob Falconer [Sec. Weed Action Committee] falconer@netc.net.au

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Associated Article: Landscape Protection - Regional Restructure & Redundancies