About Us
The Hunter Joint Organisation is a collaborative body that brings together the ten councils in the region to provide a united and local voice for our communities. As the hub for local intergovernmental collaboration, our statutory mandate includes identifying key regional strategic priorities, advocating for these priorities and building collaboration around these priorities with other levels of government, industry and community.
The Hunter JO Board determines the strategy and oversees the programs and advocacy priorities of the Hunter JO. The Board consists of the Mayor of each Member Council as Voting Representatives, with Non-Voting Representatives including GM’s/CEO’s of each Member Council and an employee of the public service nominated by the Secretary Department of Regional NSW.
The Hunter JO has a number of Sub-Committees, that focus on specific priorities in the region. These consist of:
- The Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan Sub-Committee
- Circular Economy Sub-Committee
- Sub-Committee for Economic Evolution

Collaboration across the Hunter region is the cornerstone of the Hunter Joint Organisation. The connection and coordination between our Member Councils has grown and developed since the 1950’s. Since this time our collaboration has developed and matured, delivering value for councils, our region and the local government sector as a whole.
The core operations of the Hunter JO are funded by our ten Member Councils and by the affiliated commercial business units which offer shared services to Local Government. The projects of the organisation are also made possible by State and Commonwealth grant funding.
