Stakeholder Advisory Forum (SAF)
Group overview
Hunter Water’s Stakeholder Advisory Forum (SAF) brings together representatives from a diverse range of community organisations and interest groups across the Lower Hunter. These members provide valuable insights and advice on behalf of their representative groups and constituents, helping us stay connected to the needs and priorities of our community.
Putting customers at the heart of what we do, the SAF is one of the key ways we engage with our community to ensure our services reflect community values and expectations.
Previously known as the Customer and Community Advisory Group (CCAG), the SAF builds on our legacy of maintaining similar community forums since the early 1990s.
The forum is independently chaired by Councillor Brian Adamthwaite, representing Lake Macquarie City Council, and meets at least three times per year.
You can learn more about the SAF’s purpose and function by viewing the SAF Charter below.
We also provide access to recent meeting minutes, presentations, and agendas from both the SAF and the former CCAG below.
Join the SAF
Are you part of a community interest group or organisation in the Lower Hunter? We welcome expressions of interest to join the SAF.
Before submitting your expression of interest, please review the SAF Charter to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and other membership requirements.
Group members
Our SAF members reflect a broad spectrum of perspectives from interest groups across the Lower Hunter community. To ensure inclusive and balanced input, the forum membership aims to include at least one representative from each of the following interest areas:
| Interest area | Member name | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Industry | Vacant | |
| Culturally and linguistically diverse communities | Vacant | |
| Customers in rural and urban fringe areas | Vacant | |
| Environmental groups | Vacant | |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | Vacant | |
| Local Government | Cr Brian Adamthwaite (Chair) | Lake Macquarie City Council |
| Local Government | Cr Deahnna Richardson | Newcastle City Council |
| Local Government | Cr Mark Mason | Cessnock City Council |
| Local Government | Cr Michael Dowling | Dungog Shire Council |
| Local Government | Cr Peter Francis | Port Stephens Council |
| Local Government | Cr Warrick Penfold | Maitland City Council |
| Organisations supporting low-income households | Vacant | |
| Pensioners, seniors, and older people | Vacant | |
| People with disabilities | Vacant | |
| Renters | Vacant | |
| Residential customers | Vacant | |
| Young people | Vacant |
This diversity helps ensure that the SAF captures a wide range of community needs, values, and experiences.
