We recently held our first 2026 bi-monthly meeting of the Hunter JO Board in the Upper Hunter Shire, Horse Capital of Australia and renowned global centre for thoroughbred horse breeding. Our meeting was hosted by Godolphin, Aberdeen, a global breeding and racing operation which allowed us to see firsthand the value of this significant industry to the local economy and communities of the Upper Hunter.
It was an informative and productive day for the Board, with our activities setting up our Agenda for the year ahead. Key highlights included:
- Shaping of Advocacy “Asks” and Commitments for the March 2027 NSW Government Election.
- Refining shared Hunter regional motions for lodging to the 2026 National Assembly of Local Government, focusing on our shared priorities around jobs and skills, roads and infrastructure, local government financial sustainability, and emergency management.
- Updates and discussions with the Federal Government’s Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
- An overview of the Upper Hunter Shire’s journey to restore financial sustainability and deliver core community facilities and infrastructure for its communities
- A tour of Godolphin, Aberdeen’s global breeding and racing operation
Thank you to Mayor Collison, Greg McDonald and the Upper Hunter Shire Council team for hosting the meeting. By providing a united and local voice for our communities, we are strengthening and building collaborations with other levels of government, industry and community.
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