Bellwether NSW seat to go down to the wire

The bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro has been treated with contempt by the incumbent Liberal member and anger is "red hot" in the area, according to the Labor candidate gunning for his job.

Mike Kelly, who held the seat for six years until 2013, told AAP that Liberal rival Peter Hendy had rested on his laurels in the southeast NSW electorate over the past three years.

The seat is expected to go down to the wire, having been held by the presiding government since 1972.

"There's an absolutely palpable sense of dissatisfaction with the current member," Mr Kelly said after voting at Queanbeyan South Public School on Saturday.

"He won't engage with them and he's just lazy.

"That's bedded down in people's minds."

Mr Kelly, a former soldier, said different issues played differently across the electorate.

Recent council amalgamations had caused anger in Tumbarumba, while highway upgrades were urgently needed in Yass.

The local economy had also suffered when renewable energy funding was withdrawn, according to Mr Kelly.

He said climate change was a particular concern in Eden-Monaro due to the local skiing industry.

"People saw the productive implications of renewable energy and want that back," Mr Kelly said.

"We have every resource available and we're close to the grid.

"It's one of the most vulnerable regions in the country to climate change."

A spokesman for Mr Hendy said the member, who voted at Jerrabomberra Public School, was unavailable for comment.