Community Services Manager appointed

MANAWATU District Council’s new Community Services Group Manager, Brent Limmer, will bring a considerable mix of local and central government experience to the role.

Mr Limmer, 40, replaces Lorraine Vincent, who is now council’s Chief Executive after the recent retirement of Rod Titcombe. He begins his duties on Monday, August 24.

Originally from Waitara, Taranaki, Mr Limmer graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Regional Planning and began his local body career as the Stratford District Council’s Planning Officer in 1992-93.

A year’s OE in London with British Gas followed before he returned to New Zealand and worked in resource management/consents for the Horowhenua District and Porirua City Councils.

Prior to his MDC appointment, Mr Limmer spent six years with the Ministry for the Environment as Manager – Local Government Group, where he led a staff of 12.

Ms Vincent said 40 applicants from New Zealand and Australia had applied for the position, with Mr Limmer gaining final selection from a short list of “very good calibre people”.

She said there was a certain irony in the appointment as Mr Limmer was only the second Community Services Group Manager for council – a situation that also applied to that of Chief Executive.

“Brent has a wide breadth of local government experience that is not all city-focused. He understands how district councils work and their constraints, knows the Manawatu area well and has central government experience.

“It’s a nice blend that adds another dimension to council’s executive team that already enjoys a mix of attributes,” she said.