Rotorua District Council restructuring engineering design unit
13 December 2012
The country's ongoing difficult economic environment has led to a decision by Rotorua District Council (RDC) to restructure its in-house design unit, Hydrus Engineering Consultants, and reduce the number of positions from fourteen down to eight.
Hydrus was established in 2005 as a business unit of the council, with a major focus on infrastructure design work for RDC's extensive programme of new sewerage treatment plants being constructed for lakeside communities across the district. It was also set up so that it could generate additional revenue by bidding for external work for other councils and private sector projects.
RDC chief executive Geoff Williams said Hydrus had not been financially viable over recent times, hence the need for change.
In the last year or so the amount of work available has dropped off considerably because we are nearing the end of our own major wastewater treatment plant projects, and because other work from outside Council has dried up as pressures on the economy have hit home.
So we've made the decision to dismantle Hydrus as a business unit and bring its engineering functions back into the department structure of the council. Reluctantly, we've also determined that the appropriate staffing level at this stage needs to be eight positions, six less than the current number.
Three of the six affected staff members have already made decisions to voluntarily move on leaving three other positions to be made redundant. We've offered to help those staff with other opportunities within Council and externally.
Mr Williams said he was saddened to have to make the decisions as the people involved were competent and loyal staff members who had contributed substantially to the council's successful engineering projects over a number years.
I've been impressed by the professionalism of these staff members as we worked through this process with them over recent weeks, before reaching the conclusion that some jobs had to go. While naturally disappointed they understand and accept the reasons that have led to these changes, said Mr Williams. Those who will be leaving us will do so with our thanks for their important contribution to our community and our ongoing offer of support for the immediate future.