Project team to lead the Western Bay's urban development and transport initiative

A project team has been appointed to lead the Western Bay of Plenty's Urban Development and Transport Initiative

The appointments of Robert Brodnax as project director, Janeane Joyce as project manager, and Ben Peacey, as technical specialist, were announced during a SmartGrowth Leadership Group meeting yesterday. The urban development and transport project for the Western Bay of Plenty will provide a "refreshed, coordinated and aligned approach" across the sub-region on key issues, such as housing, transport and urban development.

It was launched on March 28 as a collaborative project, spearheaded by SmartGrowth and the NZ Transport Agency, and involves Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tangata Whenua.

Brodnax brings more than 35 years' experience in policy and strategy to his role having worked across resource and infrastructure management at the NZTA, Waikato Regional Council and engineering and consulting firm Beca.

Smartgrowth chairman Bill Wasley, left, and new UFTI director Robert Brodnax. Photo / George Novak

Waikato-based Brodnax has previously played a lead role in a range of collaborative spatial planning and growth management projects, including past SmartGrowth initiatives.

A 12-month programme of works will be delivered in four phases.

Brodnax will manage all day-to-day operations, oversee the next phases of the initiative focused on supporting liveable community outcomes, and respond to strategic issues regarding housing capacity, intensification, multi-modal transport and network capacity.

The aim of the project is to deliver an integrated, strategic approach for the development of the Western Bay of Plenty's urban form and transport system with immediate and future priorities and investment opportunities.

Brodnax said he was thrilled to accept the role and looked forward to working closely with Joyce, Peacey, project partners and stakeholders to deliver "sustainable, long-term solutions" for the region's shared transport and urban development challenges.

Joyce has more than 20 years' experience in the public sector, spanning New Zealand and Australia, and brings a wealth of knowledge across business and corporate planning, integrated planning and investment, facilitation and placemaking.

As technical specialist, Peacey brings to the role more than 15 years' experience across the transport and energy sector and has led public policy, regulatory and strategy-based projects in the public and commercial sector.