In June the Hunter JO became the first region in Australia to join the Cities Power Partnership, with all ten councils now members of the Partnership and the Hunter JO set to become the first Joint Organisation to become an official member.

In line with this exciting new partnership, the Hunter JO held a Regional Forum for staff from our member councils today, 24th June.

This forum focused on looking at the pledges of each member council, and identifying regional priorities across the region and its member councils. The aim of this is not to say that all councils have to share the same priorities for their CPP pledges and actions, but to identify where they overlap. As such, these collaboration areas can be identified and supported moving forward. The regional priorities identified by Councils include:

1. Regional Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy and provision of fast-charging infrastructure throughout key locations.
2. Ensuring Council fleet purchases meet strict greenhouse gas emissions requirements and support the uptake of electric vehicles.
3. Supporting and encouraging Community based Renewable Energy.
4. Supporting and encouraging Council based Renewable Energy.
5. Supporting and facilitating amendments to planning laws and controls to encourage community and industry to adopt renewable energy.
6. Facilitating advocacy and coordinating business cases that address tensions and reluctance around initiatives.