Council profile: Alexa Forbes

Alexa Forbes' views on life can be summed up by her Queenstown back garden. Chickens graze next to her greenhouse and vegetable gardens which are all part of her commitment to sustainability and permaculture.

Now she's ready to channel some of that energy into the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

She acknowledges three main issues in the Queenstown ward - the harm of alcohol in what is deemed a 'party city', the lack of affordable housing, and limited cradle to grave healthcare.

However Forbes, 53, doesn't believe in election promises.

"I think that until you're on council it's very tricky to know exactly what you can and can't influence. What I've got instead are my key areas of attention."

She wants the council to look beyond a 10-year plan to a world with decreased resources and increased demand for them, in areas such as infrastructure and tourism, energy, waste, and transport.

Her aim is to drive the council's 'Shaping Our Future' decision-making framework, involving the community in decision making.

"Argument is very expensive and agreement is cheap. Shaping our future is a process that looks for agreement."

If Forbes isn't in her garden or working at the Centre for Sustainable Practice, she'll be training for the masters games with her Futsal team or strumming away with the Queenstown Ukulele Orchestra.

"There are 10 of us in the orchestra; we all sing it's hilarious. We play modern songs like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Of Monsters and Men, and The Black Keys."