Hunter Councils, made up of 11 member councils from Maitland, Newcastle, Cessnock and other parts of the region, celebrated its 60th anniversary yesterday.

Mayors from each member council sit on the board of the organisation, which has been involved in a state government 

pilot program recently to determine whether the model could be used elsewhere in NSW as part of sweeping local government reforms.

The Joint Regional Organisations would be based on the idea of Hunter Councils.

Hunter Councils chairman Peter Blackmore said Joint Regional Organisations were not an extra level of government.

He said they would allow councils to present a united front to the state and federal government to get funding for services and infrastructure for rate payers.

The recent state election outcome, which resulted in most Hunter MPs being part of the opposition, would not have a significant impact on the way Hunter Councils operated, Cr Blackmore said.

“We will be working with local members representing us in the parliament of NSW,” he said.

“Joint Regional Organisations will ensure, with the government’s assistance, that councils can be more sustainable and deliver to their communities.”

Hunter Councils was formed after the 1955 flood as a way for mayors across the region to secure funding to reduce the future impacts of natural disasters.

“Local government had a key role to play in the recovery,” Cr Blackmore said.

“The Hunter region applied pressure to the government for necessary funding for assistance and to help the community bounce back.

“They showed more strength in numbers than one council trying to seek a share of funds available.”