HUNDREDS of locals have heeded the call to submit feedback on the worsening congestion on the Oxley Highway at Wrights Road, but more are needed to strengthen the case for its upgrade.
Feedback can be left on the Transport for NSW website at haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/north-coast.
Head to the “pin on the map’ section and select “add marker” at the Wrights Rd or Lake Rd roundabouts.
“When we launched this [stage of the] campaign two weeks ago, there were around 60 pins highlighting congestion on the map,” said Member for Port Macquarie Rob Dwyer.
“That number has now grown to hundreds, making it one of the most concentrated clusters of feedback along the NSW coastline.
Mr Dwyer said strategic upgrades including potential intersection improvements, traffic flow enhancements and additional safety measures.
All could significantly reduce delays and improve efficiency for motorists.
Federal MPs Pat Conaghan and Alison Penfold are equally frustrated by the lack of action and have added their weight to the call for locals to “Have their Say”.
They’re also calling for a solution to be “urgently scoped and funded”.
“The Wrights Rd and Lake Rd roundabouts leading into Port Macquarie’s health and education precincts have long been flagged as the area’s worst and most dangerous bottleneck,” said Mr Conaghan.
Ms Penfold, the Member for Lyne, said the Mid North Coast community remains firmly in support of upgrades.
“An official NSW Government petition with over 10,000 individually signed submissions was lodged in September 2025 through the joint efforts of Robert Dwyer, Michael Kemp, Business NSW, Pat and myself,” she said.
“That’s 10,000 residents from Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Kempsey who took time out of their day to physically visit a participating local business and sign on the dotted line.
“And yet, we are still waiting for action.”
Mr Conaghan wants the community to apply extra pressure in the lead-up to budget announcements.
“I know that we have asked our community for their input on this issue many times before, but we need to keep up the fight.”
By Sue STEPHENSON
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