Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) elected representatives will consider a wide range of items at the first full council meeting of the new term this Thursday (November 27).

New mayor John Glover and councillors - a mix of new and returning faces - will make decisions on issues like freedom camping, navigation safety, and traffic and parking.

A big ticket item on the agenda is the 2025/2026 capital works reforecast, the first of the financial year.

QLDC staff are proposing a $35.9M (20 percent) decrease to capital cost budgets, achieved mainly through updated timing, budget reprioritisation including cost savings, and by maximising external funding. 

Councillors will also weigh in on the chief executive recruitment process.

The current chief executive Mike Theelen is due to depart the role in February 2026 and councillors are being asked to approve the next steps in the process for his replacement.

Another item on the agenda is the new traffic and parking bylaw.

The process to create the new bylaw began in April and it has been through a long consultation process; a new bylaw must be adopted before the end of the year.

A Wānaka-specific issue on Thursday’s agenda is about an easement over part of the Wānaka Golf Course Recreation Reserve.

Councillors will decide whether or not to accept the hearing panel’s recommendations over a complicated right-of-way dispute at the edge of the golf course.

Because it is the first full council meeting of the new term, councillors will also be assigned a range of community organisation and committee appointments for the term.

The new elected members were sworn in in a ceremony last month.

The full council meeting will take place at 1pm at the Council Chambers in Queenstown.

PHOTO: Supplied