Graeme Hamilton, whose last day at the council after five years as the general manager of transportation operations, yesterday said the timing seemed appropriate.
''I've decided to step back at this point and to have a change in lifestyle.''
Some people might think he was retiring, and many asked if he was, but at 72, he had ''absolutely no intention of retiring'', he said.
He would return to consulting on transport issues, which he had done for 21 years of his 50-year international career in civil engineering and transportation so far, and would move back to Oamaru permanently (he had taken a flat in Dunedin for the working week), where he had lived for 10 years.
At the council Mr Hamilton was responsible for an annual budget of about $40 million and a team that managed road and bridge maintenance contracts, roading policy, asset management, safety, traffic engineering and projects such as the State Highway 88 realignment construction, fixing the St Clair sea wall and assessing the Caversham and Chain Hills tunnels as cycling facilities.
He said he was leaving feeling proud of his team and their achievements and performance, which feedback from the public and councillors suggested were of a high standard.
He was also pleased to have got through the challenge of finding savings in the council's spending, by re-working his department's maintenance budget, despite unexpected costs such as the St Clair sea wall.
One of the biggest challenges during his time had been the building of the new $25 million road around the Forsyth Barr Stadium in one year, to be ready for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
The road is the subject of some ongoing controversy over legal processes followed for the designation of the land, but he was confident its construction was sound.
He hoped the present notice of requirement for the land would be accepted by the court at a hearing next year, and he would be watching closely as the situation continued to unfold.
He said his departure was in no way related to that issue, or any other particular issue, and he might have continued with the council, but it was more a case of the right time for a change for him.
''It's an opportune time, that won't cause problems for the organisation as it moves forward.''
Mr Hamilton had also been acting for some months as the group manager for transportation operations in the new management structure.
Infrastructure and networks general manager Tony Avery said that role would be taken over by Gene Ollerenshaw, who would transfer from the council's water and waste department later this year.
Mr Hamilton said his career had been spent in almost equal parts in government and consulting roles, and he intended the next step in his working life to include directorships, project management, executive relieving and possibly sales of engineered products.
