Issues of consultation, privatisation, and the true power of the public voice in the face of bureaucratic obstacles drew up strong opinions in the Hunter Room of City Hall on Friday night as the Hunter Community Forum met to hear from three outspoken local leaders with a stake in the city's future.
The forum describes itself as a coalition of community groups advocating for better planning, heritage and environmental policy, and have in the past pitted themselves against such divisive local issues as the Newcastle 500 and the development of the former NBN News site at The Hill.
