“Already 14 regional managers have been lost, and now 15 area managers, who also manage bushfires, will be cut as part of the restructure that has just been announced,” PSA general secretary Stewart Little said.

“This threat of reduced NPWS staff numbers is like a kick in the teeth, while every day they are struggling to do more with less. 

Mr Little said the restructure is occurring in the lead up to the bushfire season, “when experienced planning should be in full swing”, and may impact the safety of visitors.

“In recent years, NPWS has downsized from 66 areas across the state to what will be just 35 under this latest restructure, with staffing reduced accordingly,” he said.

 “National Parks’ staff are expert front line fire fighters protecting lives, private property, forestry, homes, pastures, the lot.

“The skills of these individuals are learned on the ground, not in a classroom, so it will take years to replace the knowledge we are once more about to lose.”

A May letter from Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton to Tanja’s Rod Llewelyn confirmed three Enhanced Bushfire Management Program field officers had been relocated to Eden to “enhance delivery of the program”, and improve “preparation for hazard reduction burns [and] maintenance of fire management trails”.

Mr Llewelyn said the restructuring failed to take into account the region’s “premier industry” tourism, and has weakened the bushfire fighting capabilities of the northern part of the shire.

“With all this money being spent in Sydney, they can’t afford a few jobs here, when they’ve doubled the size of the parks with the flora reserves,” he said.

“If there is a fire between Tathra and Bermagui, it will take them an hour to get there, let alone prepare.

“By cutting staff and moving equipment to a smaller depot that didn’t have the infrastructure to support the equipment, means a new shed is being built, while a new one was built in Tanja just four years ago,” he said.