Ms Machin replaced Alan Evans as president at the NRMA’s board elections a fortnight ago.

She said the ongoing upgrade of the Pacific Hwy was certain to be high on her list.

Already the NRMA is midway through planning a campaign similar to the ‘Fix our bloody roads’ billboard initiative, launched in 2005.

Ms Machin said the state of the road demanded it.

“Only 40 per cent of the highway has been done and that’s appalling,” she said.

“Next year is the 20th anniversary of the bus crash at Clybucca. At the time we were promised the highway would be dual lane within 10 years.

“Now 20 years later it still hasn’t happened.”

The State Government’s decision to cut $300 million in funding for the highway was yet another blow to motorists.

“We were hugely disappointed by that announcement,” Ms Machin said.

“At the same time we were happy to see the Federal Government step in and announce some funding for the highway, but it doesn’t pick up Kempsey or the Coffs Harbour bypass.”

Ms Machin said the NRMA would launch its new campaign for the highway early in 2009.

q Alternative fuels could be a solution for Kempsey residents fighting for lower prices at the bowser, Ms Machin said.

Ms Machin said she sympathised with Kempsey motorists, who consistently pay more for fuel than residents of Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.

“Kempsey’s just south of the boundary for the Petrol Subsidy Scheme and a bit far north of most of the major centres,” she said.

“There are also issues with competition, which in turn leads to problems with volume.”

Alternative fuels could be one option for local motorists.

Wider access to fuels such as ethanol would significantly reduce the impact of motor vehicles on the environment and, hopefully, the cost of filling up.