Yesterday the Otago Daily Times reported Mr Dobbie announced his resignation - effective tomorrow - to staff on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement confirming the resignation yesterday, Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Adam Feeley said an interim chief executive would be appointed to the council-controlled organisation ''very shortly''.
Mr Dobbie told the ODT his resignation had been ''brought about by the organisational review'', but when asked if his resignation was directly because of the controversial review, he responded: ''That's a tough question''.
''It's certainly linked to the organisational review. It's been an evolving process in my mind. When it became clear to me what the likely outcome of the organisational review would be ... I wouldn't have the same position as what I've got now.''
He declined to comment on speculation he had received a payout.
According to the review, his remuneration in the 2011-12 year was between $260,000 to $280,000.
The organisation's income was about $7 million.
Staff had been ''generally fine'' when they were informed of his decision. Mr Dobbie said he was not yet sure what the future held and when asked if he intended to stay in the district responded: ''I can't answer that''.
Mr Feeley said the council was grateful to the long-standing chief executive - who previously was national manager of contestable services and acting commercial manager with Asure New Zealand Ltd in Christchurch - and ''wished him well in his future''.
''With Hamish's departure, the priority is to ensure that there is a very quick and smooth transition.
''In discussion with the board, we will be able to confirm the details of those arrangements very shortly, including the appointment of an interim chief executive to work with QLDC on the transition.''
Mr Feeley said it was important to offer staff ''some stability in a challenging environment''.
''The staff at Lakes Environmental understand the need for business as usual, and I have no doubt that they will continue to provide a very professional service.''
The council announced last month it would disestablish its two council-controlled organisations - Lakes Environmental and Lakes Leisure - with staff to be integrated into the council, subject to an organisational review.
Staff were informed of the proposed changes on April 2 and have until next week to comment.
It is understood the council proposes to disestablish many jobs across the three organisations, with staff able to apply for revised roles.
The council acts as a shareholder and has two directors on the Lakes Environmental board,
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden, and Mr Feeley, both of whom were appointed as temporary directors on April 2.
Mr Feeley, Ms van Uden and council's chief financial officer Stewart Burns were appointed to the Lakes Leisure board of directors on March 22 after the former board, comprising chairman Peter Faul, James Coddington, Wayne Evans, Jan Caunter and Mark Elliott, resigned en masse that day.
Mr Faul told the Otago Daily Times at the time the board had found itself in an ''untenable position'' and felt it could not exercise its statutory obligations in light of the council's decision.
Ms van Uden and Lakes Environmental board chairwoman Anne Urlwin did not return telephone calls from the ODT yesterday.
