CEO of Infrastructure Tasmania Allan Garcia retired last month, the State Government has revealed

One of the state’s most highly paid public servants, taking home a whopping $324,000 a year, has left his job without fanfare.

Allan Garcia, former chief executive officer of Infrastructure Tasmania.

THE head of the government agency responsible for delivering the state’s biggest infrastructure projects has quietly left his $324,000 a year job.

The CEO of Infrastructure Tasmania Allan Garcia retired last month, the State Government revealed yesterday.

A former Local Government Association of Tasmania boss, Mr Garcia was named as the inaugural chief executive of Infrastructure Tasmania in 2015 and was one of the state’s most highly paid public servants.

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Then-infrastructure minister Rene Hidding said the body was set up to provide independent advice to the treasurer and to co-ordinate and plan major infrastructure proposals, with a particular focus on transport.

Allan Garcia, former chief executive officer of Infrastructure Tasmania.

Mr Garcia’s departure comes as the state’s top roads bureaucrat shifted into the health department.

Shane Gregory was the general manager of state roads for nearly eight years. He has been appointed deputy secretary of the department’s capital program.

Infrastructure, particularly roads, had been the top priority area for the Liberals in government although it has struggled to progress major projects such as the Bridgewater Bridge and the Hobart Airport roundabout. Plans for a Northern Suburbs light rail have gone nowhere.

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A government spokeswoman said Mr Garcia had made a sterling contribution in the role.

“After a 40-year career in Tasmanian public policy and administration, including nearly six years as the inaugural CEO of Infrastructure Tasmania, Allan Garcia retired at the end of January,” she said.

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“Mr Garcia has played an integral role in delivering a range of firsts for our state including the Tasmanian integrated freight strategy, the Burnie to Hobart freight corridor strategy, the Hobart transport vision, the Tamar River health action plan, the rolling 10-year Tasmanian infrastructure pipeline and the development of the 30-year Tasmanian infrastructure strategy.”

Mr Garcia was also involved in the Hobart City Deal and the Bridgewater Bridge replaecment project.

He was fomerly the chief executive of the Local Government Association of Tasmania.

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