It is understood the first stage of a petition will be presented to Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams.

The Port Macquarie Better Orbital Options Alliance is coordinating the petition, which it says will continue to accumulate signatures.

Alliance spokesperson Grant Mitchell says the petition has attracted a good response in a short space of time.

"We have got people pounding the streets while the petition is also available at selected businesses across Port Macquarie," he said.

"Some petitions are already being returned to the counting stations at SCAS and Fernhill Road.

"There are already over 1000 signatures to the petition.

"We are tracking really well," he said.

Mr Mitchell said the Alliance was hopeful of securing somewhere around 10,000 signatures.

The Alliance has also been boosted with another group - the Lady Nelson Drive Action Group - joining the fold.

The orbital road has been a contentious issue with affected residents flooding council meetings to voice their concerns.

Mayor Peta Pinson has also met with minister for local government Shelley Hancock to discuss her concerns over the councillors' decision-making over the orbital road. Councillors have also asked for a meeting with the minister.

Mr Mitchell says the Alliance is calling for an inquiry into the council's handling of the orbital road for a number of reasons.

"The main drivers are, the lack of transparency, the lack of genuine engagement and the non-compliance to due process," he said.

"This is why we need an inquiry.

"While several councillors have said the process is above board and transparent, we have produced evidence to the contrary.

"The Alliance is also concerned that council is now talking about looking at different options.

"However, we believe that council is not looking to move the road significantly. They are talking only about alignment options (of the original proposed orbital road investigation corridor)."

Cr Lisa Intemann emphasised that council is considering all options.

"I know of no such hidden agenda, and if that's the fear then I encourage the alliance to join with me and others in ensuring that council does comply with the formal councillor decision to objectively consider all options," she said.

"At its June meeting, council resolved to do a strategic business case to re-assess all options and alternatives, this time based on a more comprehensive set of criteria, including environmental and social.

"Council is now compiling a scope of works for the various stages and aspects of the strategic business case.

"Potentially, by September (council) will call for expressions of interest or tenders for suitably qualified parties to do the technical assessments."

Cr Intemann said that another important aspect will be the proposed community consultative committee, to over-sight consideration of traffic network improvements generally, and ensure transparency of information and decisions.

Since 2015, council revisited about 10 historic options for the E-W and N-S corridors, and compared them based on primarily engineering criteria, she said.

"In each case a preferred corridor route was chosen and put out for community engagement, which drew a lot of community suggestions for alternative solutions."

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