Mayor Simon Murray explained that council had scoped all the work to be done, and expected design work for the program to be finished before the end of the financial year.

He said recent Federal and State funding had work underway, with three large projects on The Big Hill identified as just too large for council because they required blasting.

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"Work from the recent funding is well underway and we're really beginning to see a difference there," he said.

"Today's talks were good news for me because Kempsey Road is one of our major roads to the coast, and if Waterfall Way gets blocked at any stage, Kempsey Road is our major road to the coast."

Senator McKenzie admitted she had not travelled the road, but said she had received a "very colourful" description of it from Cr Murray, who was a recent participant in the tour de Rocks.

"It sounds like it is quite a crucial piece of infrastructure for this region, not just around economic reasons, getting product in and out, but also from safety concerns," she said.

"The idea that this wants to be a road that we can get semi-trailers on, and get product moving to port quicker is something that I would be really keen to assist. It's core business for what we do."

Mr Joyce said the road was one of the crucial issues for the Electorate.

"I am going to try to dig up, from any pot I can, money to assist with this road, and going into this election I will be pursuing it further."