Step up for Tauranga-based director

Andrew Collins takes up a new position as general manager, planning for Harrison Grierson. Photo/Supplied

Engineering and design consultancy firm Harrison Grierson has appointed Tauranga-based director Andrew Collins to the national role of general manager, planning.

Mr Collins has been with the firm for 25 years and joined the company's board in 2005. He is responsible for leading the company's planning and urban design disciplines, and is also sector leader for health and education and transport, marine.

"It's really a refocusing of my position here, making it more of a national role than it was previously," Mr Collins said.

"And I love that I can do this nationwide role from Tauranga.

"I really wouldn't want to live anywhere else."

Harrison Grierson has been in business for 129 years and also has offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as Brisbane and Townsville. In addition to Tauranga, the firm's Bay of Plenty presence includes an office in Whakatane.

The company employs more than 300 civil, structural and building services staff, environmental engineers, surveyors, planners and urban designers, with about 20 staff in the Tauranga office.

The firm's planning division was involved with many leading strategic planning, structure planning and development projects around the country, including in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty, Mr Collins said.

The division also comprises a number of experts who assist clients with resource consent applications and evidence at council and Environment Court hearings.

Local projects include work on The Lakes development at Tauriko, as well as other property developments, and the Bell Rd stormwater pump station and other pump stations in the Waikato region.

"I love the challenge of the new role and it is an exciting time to be part of the leadership team at Harrison Grierson," he said.

Last month Harrison Grierson launched a rebrand following two years of change, which saw every aspect of the business re-engineered, including its organisational and capital structure since the appointment of Glenn Cornelius as managing director in January 2012.

David Needham, who is manager of the Tauranga branch, said the local outlook for the company's business was looking sound.

"There was a bit of lag here, compared with some of our other offices, but in the past 12 to 14 months we've seen an improvement in activity in all parts of the business."

He said there were signs the upward trend could be sustained for at least the next 18 months to two years.

Mr Collins, who is also currently the Bay of Plenty branch president of the NZ Property Council, said it was great to see the confidence in the property sector and wider economy.

"And it's heartening to see investment returning to Tauranga in quite a significant way."