| 61 T T Russell Fredric Carefully planning Picton’s ferry terminal Closer to home, AGP is supporting Hawke’s Bay Regional Council with three separate stopbank upgrade projects. A planning role in the redevelopment of Picton’s ferry terminal is demonstrating the capability of Waipukurau-based GP Consulting on major infrastructure projects. Established three years ago by director and senior planner Alex Gifford, the consultancy provides strategic planning advice and assists clients with resource consent applications, resource consent implementation and compliance, private plan changes, submissions and stakeholder engagement. Clients include KiwiRail, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, the New Zealand Defence Force and local authorities undertaking infrastructure projects. While the practice has an impressive portfolio of large projects, it can also handle a wide variety of scope and scale, including consenting for small residential and commercial projects. Alex established AGP after 13 years working both in local government and for other leading consultancies. “I saw an opportunity to do things a little bit differently and to help clients navigate complex planning matters more efficiently.” The business has since developed a national workload while retaining the close working relationships Alex built earlier in his career. A key project currently is the Waitohi Picton ferry redevelopment, where AGP is advising KiwiRail on planning matters. “We’re helping KiwiRail with resource consent compliance and implementation and obtaining any additional resource consents that are required.” AGP began work on the project late last year and expects to remain involved for another 12 to 18 months. “I’m very pleased with the confidence KiwiRail has placed in AGP, based on our track record with them over a number of years.” AGP regularly navigates different regional and district planning frameworks across New Zealand. With a focus on infrastructure development, its workload includes road and rail, three waters and natural hazard resilience projects. Closer to home, AGP is supporting Hawke’s Bay Regional Council with three separate stopbank upgrade projects at Brookfields Lower, Ōmāhu and Waipawa. Each involves bulk earthworks and higher stopbanks, , with AGP providing strategic planning advice and preparing resource consent applications. The projects are part of a wider $212 million major works programme to strengthen flood defences and reduce flood risk, co-funded by the Government, to help protect homes, businesses and communities long-term. AGP prefers to be an early engagement partner before project designs are fixed, Alex says. “One of the strengths of AGP is providing early planning advice to clients on their proposal. This can include identifying resource REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGP Consulting consent requirements, planning risks and risk management, and the supporting technical input they might need. “By getting involved early, you can help shape the project to facilitate a smooth resource consent process while still achieving the client’s outcomes.” AGP currently has one subcontractor and Alex intends to increase staff numbers in the near future. After being busy since establishing the business, he sees adding additional staff members as the next practical step towards further growth. IDENTIFY CLASSIFY RECTIFY Anna Carter CEnvP (Waikato) 021 819 662 Brendon Love CEnvP SC (Bay of Plenty) 029 633 9577 Sarah Newall CEnvP SC (Hawke’s Bay / Manawatu) 021 414 699 Dave Bull CEnvP SC CCHem (Wellington / Manawatu) 021 036 7764 THE CONTAMINATED SITE CONSULTANCY www.hailenvironmental.co.nz Proudly Supporting AGP Consulting Alex Gifford | Director +64 27 776 6359 contact@agpconsulting.co.nz www.agpconsulting.co.nz Strategic Planning Advice | Resource Consent Applications | Plan Changes and Submissions Consent Compliance and Implementation
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