But now it seems that the Fingal Bay link road is a significant step closer with the Liberals announcing that they will pledge $188 million to its creation, if elected at the NSW election on March 23.

Port Stephens Liberal candidate Jaimie Abbott made the announcement at Nelson Bay on Tuesday with Roads Minister Melinda Pavey and Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer.

And while no specific route or time frame for spending the committed money was revealed, Ms Pavey did say that she expected construction to be underway by the end of the next term of government.

"Half the work is getting to shovel-ready stage, " Ms Pavey said. "But we do expect to have construction started within our next term of government and that is our goal and that is our ambition."

A route options report, to include concept designs, traffic modelling, heritage and environmental investigations to determine a preferred route, would all be completed this year if the Liberal party was re-elected. It is expected to include new fauna crossings and fencing to protect wildlife.

The road, which would allow traffic to bypass Nelson Bay when travelling between Nelson Bay Road and Fingal Bay has long been debated, though little has previously been done to bring significant development.

Some of the major challenges have included the fact that a 400 metre stretch of land is owned by the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and the ambiguity over which tier of government was ultimately responsible for its construction.

The latter was addressed when Ms Abbott, who is also a Port Stephens Councillor, successfully moved last year to have the route listed as a State road.

INITIAL STORY: Liberal government commit $188m to Fingal Bay Link Road project

Ms Abbott dubbed the commitment as one of 'the most exciting announcements' of her political career. 

"I'm really pleased to see that the NSW Liberal- National government is committing $188 million to build the Fingal Bay Link Road. This is the first time someone has made an actual election commitment as far as I'm aware," she told the Examiner.

"This is essential and every time I go out door knocking in Shoal Bay and Fingal Bay, the residents overwhelmingly tell me they need this. 

"Not only in the case of a bushfire emergency - when you have to go through Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay and through slow traffic situations, but also in a medical emergency."

However Port Stephens MP Kate Washington slammed the announcement as a 'fantasy'.

"The Liberals are expecting residents to believe they will spend $140,000 per resident in Fingal Bay to construct a brand new State Road," she said.

"It is simply unbelievable. It would be much cheaper to hire helicopters for everyone to get in and out of Fingal Bay every day."

It is understood that no official agreement has yet been made to use the 400-metre stretch of Worimi land that would hinder development of the road however, Mayor Ryan Palmer said construction didn't necessarily rely on such a resolution.

"Council had access to $3 million through RMS [Roads and Maritime Services] a number of years ago and the council has worked closely with the RMS to deliver some alternative routes that don't go through the Worimi land," he said.

"We'll continue to work with the Worimi [people], that's the preferred route but as a council we're really excited by this funding announcement today."

Ms Washington used the announcement to reiterate her concerns on the delay of the Nelson Bay Road duplication.

"In 2015, the Liberals promised to “fully duplicate” Nelson Bay Road, [and spend $70 million by] 2019," she said. "No duplication work whatsoever has even begun – with only an upgrade to a single roundabout started before the election."

RELATED READING