The decision marks the end of more than three years of uncertainty for impacted residents.

Port Macquarie Better Orbital Options Alliance member Frances Lingard recalls the journey which started in November 2018.

Frances and Arthur Lingard returned home to find an envelope on their doorstep as Port Macquarie-Hastings Council embarked on community consultation with residents in the orbital road investigation corridor.

The Lingards were among those to take a stand against the controversial proposal including attendance at council meetings when the orbital road plan was raised.

The council in 2019 moved to the strategic business case phase examining long-term solutions, including orbital road options, to address traffic issues.

An extraordinary council meeting on Thursday (January 13) revisited the orbital road project.

Mrs Lingard said she was ecstatic on Thursday after the council vote.

The decision resulted in the end of any investigations, planning and funding for new roads within the orbital road corridor that significantly and unreasonably affects homes, businesses, clubs and land owners within the corridor, as well as the wider visual amenity.

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Sanctuary Springs-Greenmeadows Action Group committee member Denis Lane said Thursday was a great day for democracy.

"Relief is the prevailing sense for all of us who have been living under a dark shadow for so long," he said.

Mr Lane paid tribute to the coalition of community groups, acknowledged mayor Peta Pinson and Cr Sharon Griffiths for their efforts in the previous council term, and thanked Cr Pinson and her team, together with the other councillors who voted for the change.

"It was something we didn't really see we would get to the end of but we are very pleased that we did," he said.

The council will continue to prioritise individual road upgrades, duplications and links across the area, other than in the orbital road corridor, as it works towards dealing with traffic congestion.

Sanctuary Springs-Greenmeadows Action Group committee member Phil Lloyd said residents were thrilled common sense prevailed.

He said it was an enormous relief with residents able to move on with their lives and plans without the orbital road proposal being ever-present.

"It was a pretty long and drawn-out battle," Mr Lloyd said.

He also recognised the support from Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams and Cowper MP Pat Conaghan.

Port Macquarie Better Orbital Options Alliance spokesperson Grant Mitchell agreed the council decision to scrap the orbital road project was a huge relief.

"We can get on with planning our lives now and planning our futures," he said.

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