A senior engineering manager with more than 35 years’ experience in delivering New Zealand infrastructure projects will take the helm of the Northland Transportation Alliance.
Peter Thomson has been appointed as the inaugural manager and will be joining the organisation early in the New Year.
The collaborative alliance for transportation and roading services was established in July this year, with the aim of sharing resources to deliver better, more cost-effective transportation options to the people of Northland.
Mr Thomson, who has been Engineering Services Manager for Tasman District Council for 18 years, was one of 20 New Zealand and international applicants for the Northland Transportation Alliance Manager role.
Mr Thomson says, “I’m very pleased to be taking the opportunity to lead the Alliance, particularly given that it’s a new business unit within Northland. I am a Kamo High School old boy, so I’m looking forward to returning to Northland and the community.”
Interim Chair of the Alliance Leadership Group and Far North District Council Chief Executive (Acting) Colin Dale says he is pleased to welcome Mr Thomson. “The Alliance is the first organisation of its kind in New Zealand and there are expected to be efficiencies of $18 million of regional roading funds over the next 10 years. It is our intention to reinvest this money back into Northland’s roading network,” said Mr Dale.
Mr Dale says Peter’s skills, especially in customer service delivery and stakeholder engagement, will make the transportation alliance an even more effective organisation. “Peter also has considerable management and engineering experience and I’m confident this will prove invaluable in his role.”
NZ Transport Agency Regional Director for Auckland and Northland, Ernst Zӧllner, says the Alliance Leadership Group was rigorous in its search for the right person to take the Alliance forward. “Peter Thomson will continue to develop the Northland Transportation Alliance in a way that empowers the Alliance partners and realises the benefits an Alliance is able to deliver for transport in Northland,” says Mr Zӧllner.
Rob Forlong, Chief Executive of Whangarei District Council says, “We welcome Peter and his wealth of experience into the Alliance. Having returned to the North a year ago myself, I can promise him some great experiences as he gets to know the North again and to uncover the talents, experience, knowledge and dedication in the team he is to lead. Northland is a diverse place with unique geological, environmental and social attributes that will make his new role varied, challenging and rewarding as we all work together to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Northland’s local road and state highway networks.”
More than 50 staff of the Councils (the Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council, Whangarei District Council and the Northland Regional Council) and the NZ Transport Agency’s regional personnel are now working together to coordinate transport planning and operations.
Peter Thomson will be available for interviews when he takes up the role early in 2017.
