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 N

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