Queenstown Cable Car has appointed local industry leader Toby Arnott as Establishment General Manager, bringing deep community ties and a strong understanding of the town's evolution.
With more than 27 years’ experience working across alpine resorts in New Zealand, Japan and the United States, Arnott has brought a huge amount of real-world know-how to the role.
He has spent his career in and around passenger ropeways, with deep experience in safety, asset management, and the delivery of major infrastructure projects, all of which are highly relevant to the cable car project.
For Arnott, a Queenstown resident, the project was both timely and necessary.
“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,” said Arnott.
“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.”
The proposed cable car system will provide a reliable, high-capacity transport alternative, reducing pressure on roads while enhancing the overall visitor and resident experience. It has been led and funded by local firm Southern Infrastructure.
Southern Infrastructure CEO Ross Copland said it will focus on delivering an immediate solution to one of Queenstown’s most pressing issues in a district where the population has doubled over the past 12 years. He added that having Arnott on board strengthened the project’s connection to the community.
The project was referred under the Fast Track Approvals Act in April this year and is targeting opening in the 2029/30 summer.
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