The Mid North Coast Joint Organisation is up and running after its inaugural meeting in Kempsey on June 13.

The new organisation, in a busy few months ahead, will identify priority projects for the region and endeavour to secure government support for their implementation.

Mayors and general managers from Port Macquarie, Bellingen and Kempsey attended the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation’s first meeting, along with representatives from the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Office of Local Government.

The inaugural meeting paved the way for how the councils will work with the state government on high priority projects in the region.

Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peta Pinson said the initial meeting of the new joint organisation was quite procedural as the focus was primarily to establish the new partnership. 

“We are looking forward to working with Bellingen and Kempsey councils as together we focus on our strategy and objectives to deliver great outcomes for our region,” Cr Pinson said.

Kempsey Shire mayor Liz Campbell was elected chair of the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation.

Cr Campbell said: “We look forward to working closely with the state government to make sure investment in infrastructure, services and facilities for this region’s communities is strengthened.

“We are all facing similar challenges with ageing infrastructure, increasing populations and the need to create employment and services to make our growth sustainable.

“It makes sense that we look at these big picture issues at a regional level.”

Cr Campbell said other councils on the Mid-North Coast, which were not current members of the joint organisation, would be welcome to join in the future.

“We have a successful history of working well across our regional network of councils over many years and the formation of a joint organisation is the next stage of this collaborative relationship with both Mid-North Coast councils and the state government,” she said.

The inaugural meeting followed the state government’s proclamation in May of 11 joint organisations across regional NSW comprising of more than 90 per cent of existing regional councils.

The state government will provide $300,000 in seed funding to establish each new regional body.