Queenstown cable car appoints local GM for project

Queenstown Cable Car has appointed Toby Arnott as Establishment General Manager for a project aimed at easing congestion in Queenstown.

Born in Queenstown, Arnott joins as the scheme moves through detailed design and consenting. The proposed cable car network is being developed by Southern Infrastructure, a local private infrastructure company. It is targeting a two-year construction period and an opening in the 2029/30 summer.

He brings more than 27 years of experience across alpine resorts in New Zealand, Japan and the United States. His background includes passenger ropeways, safety, asset management and infrastructure delivery, all closely tied to the proposed transport system.

The proposed cable car would carry up to 3,000 passengers per hour in each direction, equivalent to a bus every minute linking some of the busiest parts of Queenstown, according to the project backers.

Transport pressure has become a central issue in the district as population growth has increased demand on roads. The project team says the district's population has doubled over the past 12 years.

Southern Infrastructure Chief Executive Officer Ross Copland said the project's proposed two-year build period could help address the town's congestion problem sooner.

"The cable car project is equivalent to a bus every minute connecting the busiest parts of town. Most importantly, it can provide immediate relief with a build programme of just two years. In an era where project durations are usually measured in decades, that's an important point of difference. We're getting overwhelming feedback from locals and businesses that we just need to get on with it, so that's exactly what we're doing," Copland said.

The scheme was referred under the Fast Track Approvals Act in April, a process intended to shorten approval pathways for major developments.

Local appointment

Arnott has held senior roles at NZSki, Treble Cone and Sugar Bowl Resort in California. His work has included lift operations, engineering, weather and risk management, capital projects, and managing large operational teams.

His commercial and governance experience also supported the appointment, given the operational demands of a transport network intended to serve both residents and visitors.

Arnott framed the role in terms of local change and the effect of growth on daily travel in the resort town.

"I remember Queenstown before congestion became part of daily life - when getting around was easy and the town felt more connected. Growth has brought incredible opportunities, but also real pressure on infrastructure. This project is about making it easier for everyone to get around the district so they can enjoy what makes Queenstown special," Arnott said.

"Bringing my operational experience to a project this important, in my own backyard, is exactly the challenge I wanted. I look forward to building a strong local team and earning the trust of the Queenstown community," he said.

Project details

The proposed network is planned as a fully electric passenger system operating above the road corridor. Its backers say that would allow it to move independently of road congestion while reducing pressure on existing transport routes.

Southern Infrastructure has described the project as part of a wider regional infrastructure programme in the Southern Lakes. For the cable car, the immediate focus is on design work, consents and building the operating structure needed before launch.

Copland said Arnott's appointment also reflected his ties to the area and his understanding of how the town has changed.

"It's important that this project is grounded in local insight. Toby understands Queenstown - where it's come from and where it needs to go - and that perspective is invaluable as we move forward.

"It's a huge win for us to secure someone of Toby's calibre to establish the cable car operation. Toby has a huge work ethic, attention to detail and a genuine commitment to excellence honed over years of executive roles in the ski industry," Copland said.

The project team says the planned system is intended to offer a transport alternative in a town where road congestion has become part of everyday movement for residents, workers and tourists alike.