As part of the restructuring of the former Rural Lands Protection Board that started late last year, offices and staff have been reduced dramatically across New South Wales.

Changes to the number of staff in the field have not been altered.

Management positions have also been cut from four in the local area to one. This person is now based at Wingham where the district’s main office is.

Singleton field staff member Ross Kemp explained that the change to staffing levels was an attempt to cut down on the constant rise in rates for Mid Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority ratepayers.

“The work relating to rates has been moved to Orange which has taken some work load off those in Singleton and was done to keep rates down to a minimum,” he added.

According to Mr Kemp the previous amalgamation with Scone four to five years ago was also an attempt to help make a reduction in costs to ratepayers

The recent election of board members for the local divisions E and F, is another example of reductions made to those representing local landholders.

“Our board had 32 directors and the Authority has cut that down to eight,” he told The Singleton Argus yesterday.

“This is a big reduction in representation for the local community.

“For the community’s sake I only hope those who have been elected can cope with the demands that are going to be placed on them.”

With the rates work being handed over to the office in Orange, Mr Kemp believes that landholders will have less to do with the Singleton office than before.

“With rates being payable over the phone and online, some people will not notice a change in what they can access at the office,” he said.

The office now has one full time employee and one part-time employee. Additional field staff are also based out of the John Street office.