DUNGOG Shire Council’s Mayor and General Manager joined other members of the Hunter Joint Organisation (HJO) at NSW Parliament House on Thursday, 16 October to advocate for greater investment in the Hunter’s communities, industries, jobs, and economic future.
The HJO is a collaborative body that represents the 10 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the Hunter region.
At Parliament, Council leaders met with the NSW Premier, Treasurer, and senior Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
“For our Mayor (Digby Rayward) and General Manager (Gareth Curtis), this was a valuable opportunity to highlight the challenges faced by our Shire, particularly as the only LGA in NSW without a state-owned road,” a spokesperson for Dungog Shire Council stated on social media.
“They emphasised the significant burden this places on our limited resources and the urgent need for additional road funding to maintain our extensive local network.
“We are hopeful that our voices have been heard.”
According to the HJO, the shared advocacy priorities being communicated “seek to deliver new jobs, safer roads, more housing and greater resilience to natural disasters for our region”.
“The advocacy agenda spoke to the creation of 50,000 new jobs to offset those expected to be lost through a decline in coal mining, through economic diversification and post-mining land use; faster delivery of well-located homes with enabling infrastructure; safer roads and better regional connections; a step-change in our visitor and export potential, including the Newcastle Airport airfreight precinct; and long-term resilience to natural disasters; all of which need to be underpinned by more sustainable funding for local government,” the HJO said in a statement.
“Thank you to the Premier, Treasurer, Ministers, Shadow Ministers and local Members for constructive engagement.
“We look forward to further collaboration to deliver tangible outcomes to craft a stronger, prosperous and more resilient future for the Hunter region.”
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