“I believe that only by transformational transport planning will we be able to reduce transport emissions and achieve our climate change goals.”

Stuart is a true land-use and transport-integration strategist who believes creating the most appropriate and sustainable transportation systems to support and serve land use must be at the heart of transport planning. He has found his ‘best for the project’ approach fully supported by the wider Resolve Group team, and lists this as one of the reasons he chose to join the company in 2016, and also why he has remained.

As a highly experienced engineer and transport planner, Stuart has worked with local authorities in the UK and New Zealand. Prior to joining Resolve Group, he was Regional Land Transport Plan Manager at Auckland Transport where he was responsible for the team who produced a key guiding document for Tāmaki Makaurau, the Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan. He also project managed the important Auckland Regional Arterial Road Plan, considered to be “a blueprint for roading in Auckland” by the Royal Commission.

Since joining Resolve Group, Stuart has written detailed business cases for the seismic strengthening of the Quay Street seawall and the Ferry Terminal redevelopment, among others. Of particular note is his strategic case for the entire precinct of the Auckland Downtown Redevelopment Programme, outlining arguments and reasoning, of which he is justifiably proud.

Stuart brings considerable value to any project through his extensive understanding of Auckland’s unique transport issues and the projects and programmes proposed to resolve them. His familiarity with Auckland Transport’s, and Waka Kotahi’s, Planning and Investment Division’s processes, structures and funding requirements gives him deep insider knowledge he can share with clients.

Particular professional interests of Stuart’s include identifying how road space can be better allocated to competing transport modes and determining how the use of technology can improve road corridors for all users.

Stuart offers his clients:

• Over 15 years managing teams of industry professionals and over 30 years’ experience in transport planning and road engineering.
• Experience in leading others to embrace change and seek improved infrastructure outcomes.
• Business case acumen, including a good understanding of Better Business Cases and the ‘business case approach.’
• Well-established relationships with key local and national government leaders and industry players.
• Wide-ranging transport planning and engineering technical knowledge.
• An understanding of current legislation and national and regional strategies.
• Specialist design knowledge that comes from practical experience working as a design engineer and resident engineer.

Stuart loves cycling, predominantly road cycling. He says, “nothing clears my head better than getting out on a quiet country road, putting my head down and ripping through the kilometres.” He rode the Otago Rail Trail in 2019 and is planning the Alps to Ocean ride soon (hoping it’s all downhill!).

“The opportunity afforded to me to work with so many different councils around the country continues to be an aspect of my work I especially enjoy.”

Over the course of his career, Peter has worked for national and local government organisations including the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Works, in the areas of asset management, transportation, project management, contract administration and procurement.

Working in various positions for Transit New Zealand since its formation in 1989, Peter’s final role was as Highways Engineer for the Wellington Region, responsible for the operations and maintenance of the highway network and the planning and development of state highway projects in his area. While there, he was responsible for the completion of the Thorndon Overbridge strengthening at 22% under the contract price, development of the business case for the construction of the Stoke Bypass and the setting up of Marlborough Roads.

As General Manager with Porirua City Council, Peter’s work resulted in a reduction of major water main breaks from 52 a year down to just two. He also achieved a reduction of dry weather sewer overflows from 300 to zero and oversaw the development of a Regional Waste Management and Minimisation Plan. His time with the council also saw the halving of the road accident rate, a reduction in graffiti in the city and the start of the $1 billion Transmission Gully project.

Peter has volunteered as an IPENZ Assessor and sat on the Executive Road Controlling Authority Forum managing research and guidelines development. He is an ‘Excellence in Building Professions Innovation Award winner (1999) and won a Business Excellence Award in 2004.

Peter joined Resolve Group in 2016 and works at the company’s Wellington office developing strategic direction, procurement and asset management plans.

Peter offers his clients:

• Management and strategic business planning.
• Extensive contract management experience.
• Community engagement expertise related to infrastructure development, policy, evaluation and the development of investment advice.
• Issues and dispute resolution – working towards all parties accepting an agreed solution.
• Skills, knowledge and experience in the fields of water supply, sewerage, stormwater, reserves management, solid waste management and minimisation and transportation.
• More than 20 years’ experience in Engineer to Contract roles.

A keen dinghy sailor, Peter often competes in the Flying Dutchman class with one of his three adult children. He says you really cannot beat Wellington on a good day.