The goodwill established has underpinned the success of Hunter Councils as the lead organisation in resource sharing. With the ever increasing pressure on local government to do more with less, Hunter Councils is constantly striving to reduce the cost of "doing business" for local government through offering economies and efficiencies.

Consisting of coastal settlements, such as Forster, Tuncurry and Seal Rocks, as well as inland settlements such as Bulahdelah, Stroud and Tea Gardens, the Great Lakes LGA is home to a number of great beaches, as well as many national parks, state forests and lakes, making it a popular tourist destination.