The simple cross for Jodi Joy Thomas has stood on the side of the road since the two-car accident on March 9, 1996, in which the Raymond Terrace girl was killed instantly.

But the memorial has to be moved to make way for the Waterford Estate development at Chisholm.

County Property Group, which will develop the estate, wants to find the person who maintains the memorial.

The company wants that person's suggestions for a new commemoration at an intersection with traffic lights near the scene of the crash.

The identity of the person responsible for fresh flowers at the cross is elusive.

Jodi's parents, who lived at Lakeside Village, Raymond Terrace, at the time of the accident were ruled out. They have since moved to New Zealand.

And County Property Group director Christopher Bean said he had even been in contact with the driver of the other car involved in the accident, who spent six months in hospital recovering from his injuries.

Jodi's parents visited him every week.

He was aware the memorial was maintained, but he could offer no clues about who it could be.

Mr Bean asks anyone who may know who maintains the memorial or the person who tends it to contact the Mercury before work on the intersection begins in early September.

"I'm sympathetic to the memorial that has been sitting on that piece of road for a number of years and which has been well maintained over that time," he said.

"But, aside from that, it would be an insensitive approach (to ignore it).

"Perpetuating that memorial is something I would like to foster for the community."

Jodi Joy Thomas died on Saturday, March 9, on her way home from a voluntary job she took at Lyndal's Place Eatery at the Bank Hotel, East Maitland, because she didn't want to claim unemployment benefits.

She was travelling with her employer Lyndal Mace when the crash happened about 11pm, 500m south of the Raymond Terrace Road and Taylor Avenue intersection.

Ambulance officers worked for about 45 minutes to free Jodi's body from the wreckage, but she had died instantly.

Miss Mace was taken to John Hunter Hospital with serious head and chest injuries, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Jodi's parents, Ross and Sharmaine Thomas remembered a girl with a "heart of gold" and an abundance of creative flair.

"Jodi was naturally talented. Her artwork was exceptional and she wrote some beautiful poetry. We will miss her so much," they told the Mercury the day after the crash.

Mr Bean said his idea was to create a new memorial for Jodi in 600sqm of parkland near the intersection that would become the entry to the estate.

"I'm thinking of putting something in there; a seat with a plaque on it to acknowledge Jodi's memory," he said.

"But I'd be open to suggestions from the person maintaining the memorial, and we could work with my landscape architect."