Queenstown-Lakes District Council
The Queenstown-Lakes District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 11 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the district). four councillors will be elected from the Queenstown-Whakatipu ward. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Queenstown-Lakes District Council election.
Queenstown-Lakes District Council candidates
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Jon Mitchell
Why I'm standing
Queenstown Lakes was home for my parents, where I was born and raised, and where our children have made their homes. I have seen massive change throughout my lifetime. The current rate of growth is simply unsustainable and increasingly unaffordable for too many. Our communities need open, honest, inclusive, trusted leadership to enable them to feel they have more control over their destinies and the consequences of growth are better understood and managed.
About me
My three decades of experience in local government, crisis and emergency management, collaborative, community-focused crisis leadership training, and community and economic development provide me with a skill and experience set very well suited to add real value to governance in our district and wider region. My earlier years of experience in adventure tourism, ski field and aerial cableway management, as well as my family's current off-grid eco-tourism business, give me useful insights into current challenges.
My priorities
- Rebuild trust between communities and QLDC by helping forge an open, trusting governance team.
- Reprioritise rates and spending policies to meet real community needs with much less optional spending.
- Use all tools available to bring growth under control to enable infrastructure to catch up.
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