The Hunter JO team has been very busy over recent months writing a range of grant applications to support delivery of the Hunter JO Strategic Plan.

Six applications totalling around $25M have been submitted to the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and Bushfire Community Resilience and Recovery Fund, which aim to support the social and economic recovery of communities affected by bushfire. The applications include:

1. Transforming Resilience with the Integrated Planning & Reporting Framework – This would provide an innovative approach to support our bush fire affected Councils to embed resilience principles and projects into their IP&R which in turn will provide Council the ability to allocate recurrent funds and commit to long term resourcing (financial and staff) for resilience projects.

2. Simtables for Community Empowerment – Simtables provide a “State of the Art” tool that can be used to engage communities in localised place-based emergency information sessions. This project seeks to purchase a Simtable for the collective use of member Councils and to provide direct support to Councils in undertaking the extensive community engagement associated with their use.

3. Hunter 2050 Foundation – Establishment of the 2050 Foundation aims to manage industrial change in the region, by leading investment and redevelopment as well as helping businesses and workers seize new opportunities.  Around $4 million has been requested to:

• • Support initial cost of design and feasibility work, at both the organisational and project level, for new energy, agribusiness and SME transformation and growth in the region,
  • Deliver supply chain transition support to 30 highly vulnerable businesses in the region; and
  • Support up to 2000 workers in making critical career transitions, as the economy recovers and begins to transform.

4. Accelerating Event Economies – This project seeks to strengthen the region’s collective voice and the capacity of Councils to collaboratively pitch for major events for the region. It includes undertaking an events and opportunity audit, and identifying, preparing and implementing shared destination and even management resources including an event managers toolkit, prospectus, website and integrated council shared services, approvals and event data.

5. Hunter BioCircular – This focuses on delivering concept plans for 4 multi-element circular economy waste processing precincts in the region. Each precinct would represent a key part of the Hunter and outline the potential for circular processing, green energy and value-added businesses delivering diversified employment opportunities and new industries to the Hunter.

6. Shiraz to Shore –Significant opportunity exists to link existing and planned cycleway infrastructure across member Councils; to create an integrated region wide network. This would provide both a valuable region wide recreational resource for residents, and the foundation upon which to generate economic and business development by holistically promoting the region as a key cycling destination. This project would:

• • Gather all existing cycle tourism experiences across the Hunter Region, including mountain biking, road and recreation cycling opportunities and package them up into a cohesive cycle tourism plan including a brand, marketing plan, product development, training and website; and
  • Develop the concept and planning for a connected cycling trail called “Shiraz to Shore” extending over 100km among the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, through heritage towns and rail trails to the beach and lake experiences of the Hunter. Funding will also be sought for a build program that could construct all sections of the Shiraz to Shore Trail, including the Richmond Vale Rail Trail section.

A big thank you to all of those people who assisted with pulling these applications together!