From councils battling coastal erosion to overstretched mental health workers, dozens of projects across the Hunter are hopeful of receiving a funding boost in Tuesday's state budget.
While the region's big ticket infrastructure projects attract the most attention, the smaller projects can also justify extra state government funding.
Several, such as mental health services, have become more acute in the wake of COVID-19.
Acting Director of Hunter-based national mental health Institute, Everymind Carmel Loughland said further investment in the prevention of mental ill-health and suicide including front line support services was urgently needed.
"Prevention is key to developing a mentally healthy and resilient community by allowing access to resources at the time of most need and mitigating onset of illness," said Associate Professor Loughland.
"It is difficult to know the full impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of Australians but what we do know is many are feeling an impact, especially vulnerable individuals, with noticeable increases in the use of support services during this time.
"It is important to acknowledge that this pandemic is unprecedented so it is difficult to predict or know what lies ahead but what we do know is people need support now and they'll need support during recovery and post recovery to support positive mental health and wellbeing."
In addition to securing a 2.5 per cent pay rise for police officers, the Police Association is urging the government to invest in the upgrade of several Hunter police stations.
"In the Hunter Valley the most needy police station is Singleton. It's a beautiful old building but it is not fit for purpose in terms of modern policing," association spokesman Ian Allwood said.
"The Hunter has been one of the fastest growing areas in the state for some time now and it's time Singleton had a fit for purpose police station."
City of Newcastle is one of dozens of councils that is battling coastal erosion.
The State Government has to date committed $1 million to commence exploration work to locate a suitable sand supply and gather preliminary baseline environmental data for a sand renourishment program at Stockton Beach .
City of Newcastle has also spent more than $2.46 million on emergency work associated with protecting coastal assets and property at Stockton.
The council has grant applications worth almost $2 million awaiting government for further Stockton erosion works.
"With erosion incidents increasing rapidly during recent years, it is imperative that both the NSW and Federal Governments provide urgent assistance to City of Newcastle in its efforts to deliver a long-term solution to Stockton's coastal erosion that has mass sand nourishment at its core," a council spokeswoman said.
"There is no quick fix to the longstanding threat of erosion, but it is now more urgent than ever to secure funding and take action.
"Next week's State Budget provides an opportunity for the NSW Government to increase its Coastal and Estuary Grants program and prioritise investment at Stockton Beach."
Environment groups argue that increased funding will not only help fight climate change but provide long-term benefits to the region's economy.
The Hunter Environment Centre is urging the government to invest more into an economic diversification fund.
"Economic diversification will help us grow industries that are in decline or which have been lost," Hunter Environment Centre spokeswoman Jo Lynch said.
Potential projects include industry decarbonisation, green steel manufacturing, coal ash recycling and mine site rehabilitation.
"The government could also spend more on school and housing retrofits. But for something like that to be an economic diversification project it would need to be a concerted program that would employ lots of people with the goal of meeting specific climate targets," Ms Lynch said.
Increasing the Hunter's koala habitat is also high on the list of priorities for those involved in the conservation and care of the national icon.
"It's a little bit backward to spend money on koala hospitals without being willing to spend money on conservation - prevention is better than a cure," Victoria Jack who was recently involved in the campaign to stop the Brandy Hill quarry expansion said.
"We know there is only a small amount of habitat remaining in Port Stephens. We need the NSW government to appreciate the value of the remaining habitat."
