Jobs go at BSES

ELEVEN staff members at the Bundaberg BSES sugar research station will lose their jobs by the middle of the year in a restructure.

BSES CEO Eoin Wallis said staff numbers at Bundaberg BSES would reduce from 21 to 10 by July 1.

"Other Bundaberg BSES staff will be considering other roles being created by the reforms in the sugar industry, including some in BSES," he said.

The Ashfield Rd research facility has been marked for sale as the organisation slashes $6.3 million from its operating costs - or roughly 20% of the 2012 budget.

A nationwide reduction in the annual tonnage of sugar growers who pay a voluntary levy has contributed to the organisation's financial position.

The redundancies come as the organisation prepares for a merger with Sugar Research and Development Corporation and Sugar Research Ltd.

The new research and development organisation formed by the merger is expected to be funded by a statutory levy for growers.

A report released last year detailed a $50 million funding black hole in the BSES budget and recommended a streamlining of Australian sugar industry research and development enterprises.

Announcing the decision last year Mr Wallis said the reforms were critical for the industry to secure a financially stable research program.