Will famous bellweather seat remain an indicator of electoral fortunes?

The bellwether seat of Eden Monaro this time takes in new areas after the redistribution of boundaries.

NSW Premier Mike Baird, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and local MP for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy in Merimbula Source: AAP

A contingent of the Yass Valley community gather at their local bus interchange in the early morning, and despite the bitter chill of winter nearly all in attendance are smiling.  

The have reason to, a recent redistribution of electoral boundaries places them in the highly contested marginal seat of Eden-Monaro. Finally, they feel power is in their hands this election campaign. 

"I think the politicians in this seat should be fearful I think we can change the outcome of this seat," resident Sophie Wade said.

Eden-Monaro now completely surrounds the ACT and extends to the Victorian border. 

In every federal election since 1972 the electorate has fallen to whichever party forms government. This year, however, it may just defy history. 

Liberal MP Peter Hendy, one of the key players behind Malcolm Turnbull's accession to the leadership last September, is at real risk of losing after just one term. 

A little over 1000 votes separated Mr Hendy and the former Labor incumbent Mike Kelly in 2013, the same number of locals estimated to reside in Yass Valley. 

Many of the residents live along the Barton Highway, a road notorious for car crashes.

They want the carriageway duplicated to four lanes, and say they will vote for the party that pledges the funds. 

"I think the time has come. It's been on the drawing board since 1971 talking about duplication which is an extraordinarily long time," Yass Valley Mayor Rowena Abby said.

Days after the launch of the grassroots campaign, the Government announced $50 million worth of upgrades, including overtaking lanes. It's not a full upgrade but the community believes it's a start.  

"I think it's very necessary that we spend money on upgrading the road it's a significant piece of infrastructure that needs to be maintained and improved," Liberal MP Peter Hendy said.  

Just days after Mr Hendy's announcement Labor outbid the offer. It pledged $76 million towards full-duplication. 

"From me personally they have that commitment as a candidate to get that job done," Labor candidate Mike Kelly said.  

The community of Yass Valley, proof just how much power marginal seat holders possess.