The party is looking at its election campaign schedule in a bid to slot in the announcement when a high-profile party member can make the trip to the Cessnock Road site.

At this stage it is not known whether Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will return or whether opposition transport and infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese, an MP who is passionate about Testers Hollow and the Hunter Expressway, will come in his place.

Mr Shorten intended to make the announcement with Labor candidate for Paterson Meryl Swanson and Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent last week.

But seconds after Mr Shortens motorcade arrived a head-on collision unfolded metres away and he sprung into action, comforting one of the crash victims for an hour.

Weve already given a clear indication that were going to make an announcement, Ms Swanson said.

Its been an issue for decades, right back to my great-great-grandparents. They had a little boat and they would row to get out when it flooded that was 90 years ago.

Ms Swanson acknowledged the state government was ultimately responsible for fixing the problem, but said the Labor Party wanted to contribute to the solution.

She challenged the state government to make its intentions clear and reveal what plans it had for the stretch.

Fairfax understands the NSW Roads and Maritime Service is working on two options.

An RMS spokesman would not be drawn on details about the work when contacted by the Mercury on Tuesday.

The spokesman said the RMS had been investigating options to upgrade Cessnock Road since 2013 and an upgrade would require extensive flood mitigation and complex infrastructure design due to the existing flood plan, road layout and location of properties.

Roads and Maritime is continuing to work with Maitland City Council, Cessnock City Council and other agencies to develop a long-term approach to manage flooding issues at Testers Hollow, he said.

Any improvements would need to be carried out as part of a coordinated approach with all stakeholders.