Forest jobs move

By Melissa Donchi
LOCAL forestry workers will be forced to reapply for their jobs after VicForests announced it would conduct an extensive restructure of the organisation to deal with the impact of the 2006-07 fires.
However VicForests said no jobs would be lost in the restructure.
According to VicForests, up to 70 per cent of jobs will be affected by the new organisational structure which will come into place in January 2008.
The decision to centralise its operations in Healesville will affect workers in small towns such as Marysville, Toolangi and Powelltown where some workers will have to travel for more than 40 minutes to get to work.
Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) Victorian Branch Secretary Karen Batt said of the 17 VicForest offices only seven will remain with two regional offices created in Healesville and Orbost.
“Major office operations such as the regional office at Traralgon will close with many of the jobs to be forcibly relocated to the remaining offices,” Ms Batt said.
“Staff are expected to apply for these relocated positions within days despite their existing role and workplace location.”
But Victorian coordinator for Timber Communities Australia Scott Gentle said it was difficult to foresee what the effects would be at this stage.
“We don’t know how many people it would effect yet because we’re not sure what the actual structure will be,” Mr Gentle said. “I guess the positive is that by decentralising the organisation and taking it out of Melbourne and relocating it in more traditional forest areas is a sign that VicForests wants to be part of these communities.”
VicForests acting CEO Cameron MacDonald said that there would be no job cuts in the reorganisation.
“VicForests will be reorganised to ensure that the best public value is achieved from harvesting Victoria’s State forests,” Mr MacDonald said.
“The new organisational structure will commence on 1 January 2008, with changes to office locations changing gradually over the next two years as fire salvage operations are completed.”