The Central NSW Joint Organisation consists of 10 member councils - Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin. Central Tablelands Water is an Associate Member. The Board also values working with key stakeholders, importantly the NSW Government.
Central NSW is a diverse area that covers around 47,000 km2 with a population estimated to be 157,686 persons (based on Office Local Government - Council statistics - 2016 Census data).

The Local Government Act 1993 identifies the three principal functions of Joint Organisations as follows:
Section 400R Principal Functions of Joint Organisations:
A joint organisation has the following principal functions:
To establish strategic regional priorities for the joint organisation area and to establish strategies and plans for delivering those strategic regional priorities
To provide regional leadership for the joint organisation area and to be an advocate for strategic regional priorities
To identify and take up opportunities for inter-governmental co-operation on matters relating to the joint organisation area
In establishing strategic regional priorities for the joint organisation area, a joint organisation is to consider any relevant strategic priorities or plans of member councils and the State government.
A strategic regional priority, or a plan or strategy for delivering a strategic regional priority, established by a joint organisation does not limit the operation of or otherwise affect any regional plan or strategy given effect to under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (including any regional plan made under Part 3B of that Act).