The Hunter JO and the Committee for the Hunter yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signifying a joint commitment to action for the Hunter region.
Cr Bob Pynsent said that the MoU signifies a shared desire to deliver outcomes for the region. “We owe it to our communities to speak to State and Federal decision-makers with a unified regional voice wherever and whenever possible. As a collaboration of councils in the Hunter region we understand both the challenge of genuine collaboration and its power. This Memorandum of Understanding underpins our intent to work with Committee for the Hunter, with the region’s bests interests at heart. The MoU will connect our local government leadership with other thought leaders across the region, to deliver joint advocacy and action on shared priorities for our communities.”
Collaboration across the Hunter region is the cornerstone of the Hunter JO. The connection and coordination between our member councils has grown and developed since the 1950s, when local government combined their efforts in the best interests of their communities to respond to floods across the region. Adversity often breeds collaboration, as it does innovation, and the timing of this Memorandum of Understanding could be seen as another example of this.
The Hunter region has, in the last 12 months, experienced drought, bushfires, and the impacts of COVID-19. Just as the 1955 floods brought local councils together to joint action, the challenges of the last 12 months have brought the Hunter JO and the Committee for the Hunter together with a shared commitment to advocate for the region. The signing of the MoU, between the Chairs of both organisations, took place at Maitland’s Coquun restaurant, on the banks of the Hunter River, signifying connection across the region, and providing a tie to the floods that brought the local councils of the Hunter JO together over 60 years ago.
The Hunter JO and the Committee for the Hunter recently collaborated on the ‘Ready to Rebuild’ campaign aimed at attracting stimulus funding in the 2020-21 Federal Budget for local government infrastructure in the Hunter.
“The Committee for the Hunter was established in response to a belief that the Hunter needed a unified voice that enabled regional leaders to identify long-term goals for the region and improve collaboration between community, industry and governments to achieve these. The MoU is a significant step in bringing those key stakeholders together to present that unified voice, which can only lift our influence in Macquarie Street and in Canberra”, said Richard Anicich.
To find out more, read the official press release at https://www.hunterjo.com.au/news/media-statements/