More than 200 people are being cut from a state's top regional agency in what unions say is a short-sighted budgetary surrender.
The move will come at a cost to research, recovery and biosecurity for regional communities, according to the NSW state public sector union.
"This (NSW) government can no longer claim it supports the various research stations across the state," the Public Service Association said in a statement on Friday.
"These locations are being left to die on the vine."
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is set to axe 228 frontline staff, according to the union statement.
The figure marks an increase from previous estimates that 165 jobs would be cut, a four per cent workforce reduction.
A need to reduce staff numbers was foreshadowed by NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty in a February budget estimates hearing.
The "coward cuts" go much deeper than initially thought, NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said on Friday.
"This decision is not just reducing a headcount but taking away years of knowledge and experience across a range of fields," he said.
"It feels like once again the premier and the agriculture minister have been keeping secrets about the swift removal of these employees, and the diabolical impact it will have on frontline services across regional NSW."
Many of the staff to go are older than 55 and have worked with the agency for more than two decades.
Affected staff will be able to apply for 96 proposed DPIRD roles, and some will be provided pathways to seek other public sector jobs.
Unions previously proposed the agency cut staff from senior service, or the 655 temporary workers employed by affected divisions.
The department acted as a standalone agency before a major restructure in 2024, branded by opposition MPs as a plan for "regional ruin".
Premier Chris Minns said the changes were part of the state government's commitment to regional NSW.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development was contacted for comment.
