“The Nerriga Road takes up so much funding that if we can get this road done, all of that funding can go to everybody else,” Ms Gibb said.

When she saw Member for Monaro John Barilaro’s petition for Nerriga Road funding online, Ms Gibb knew she had to act.

“A huge percentage of people in Braidwood don’t have access to the internet, or are just not on Facebook,” she said. She contacted Mr Barilaro’s office, who had kept the petition online so as to not have to wait for funding. 

In light of that, Ms Gibb has taken it upon herself to spread the word. She has placed the petition in key points around Braidwood and Nerriga, hoping to provide access to those who might otherwise not see it. 

The road has been a cause of complaint for many years. It is simply expected to take a load far heavier than it was built for, Ms Gibb said. Quarry trucks, a school bus, tourist and residential traffic all meant that it’s impossible to keep up the standard of the road, she said. For Ms Gibb, it’s simple mathematics: “Too much traffic, road’s not up to standard, has to be done.”

“It’s very hard on cars and trucks and the school bus,” says Murray Robertson of D&S Motors, who regularly sees the wear and tear it causes vehicles. The tyres of cars that frequently travel on the road wear out much quicker, he says.

It’s not just a financial concern, though. Many in the community believe the road’s condition is putting people in danger.

“Some parents have even said they are scared to send their kids to school in storms, due to the poor state of the road,” Mr Barilaro said.

Mr Barilaro believes that demonstrated community support will help him put forward a strong case for having the road sealed. “I will be taking this petition directly to the NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey and putting forward a case for a significant amount of funding to be allocated in this year’s budget,” Mr Barilaro said.

The NSW Budget will be delivered on June 20.