Mr Constance is calling on the Rees Government to halt its plan to manage the Far South Coast’s National Parks from Coffs Harbour and to not axe the positions of fire management officers who work on fire fighting and risk management strategies.

According to the NSW Liberal Party, about 200 letters were sent to National Parks and Wildlife Service personnel recently, asking people to put their hands up for voluntary redundancies.

“Our region is among the highest risk fire zones in the State and the last thing we need at the moment is management based in Coffs Harbour,” Mr Constance said.

“With temperatures soaring and dangerous fires burning across the State, Nathan Rees and his ministers should not be axing essential fire-fighting positions.”

NPWS spokesman Stuart Cohen said there would be 30 jobs cut across the State, but it was unlikely any of those would be in the Far South Coast region and they would mostly be senior management positions, not frontline positions such as firefighters.

Mr Cohen said the only change for the region was that the branch director would be relocated from Queanbeyan to Coffs Harbour and taking up more regions to control.

“Coffs Harbour-based management will be clueless to the challenges facing Far South Coast communities and the under-resourced National Parks system,” Mr Constance said.

“Everything from feral animals to fire mitigation will not receive the attention it deserves.

“Nathan Rees owes a duty of care to thousands of families living near National Parks who are facing major bushfire threats.

“These people will be horrified by the Government’s actions, which can only increase the threat to life and property.”