The 192m section of 2.4m wide concrete pathway is the first jigsaw piece of an ambitious plan that connects North Haven Beach to Pilot Beach, via a continuous footpath and cycleway.

The project, however, has met with some criticism with the Courier receiving four letters, from mainly Dunbogan residents living opposite the township's reserve where the first work of the project began.

Some of the comments in the letters raised concerns about the route of the path not being on the waterfront, notification for residents in the immediate area who feel impacted by "cyclists, pedestrians and strangers walking past" and quality of life being changed without having a say.

Dunbogan resident Brad Plummer's letter relating to the pathway appears on the Opinion page of this website along with three other letters from residents.

The B2B community association, however, is standing by its decision on the route of the pathway and the community support it has received.

In early March this year 300 people attended a community meeting at the Laurieton United Services Club to have their say in the economic and social future of the Camden Haven. The Beach to Beach Riverwalk concept made its debut and received rousing support. Also borne from that meeting was the Schools to Schools pathway group, a project to link Kendall Public School to Laurieton Public School via a pedestrian footpath/cycleway. Both concepts will see safe areas for young and old in the community to walk/ride and use mobility devices.

Both projects, driven by volunteers, have the support of both local and state government as well as backing by the community, judging by the numbers of people who volunteer and attend various fundraising events. Both have attracted over $200,000 each in grant funding and community donations, as well as funds from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Late in September more than 100 volunteers grabbed their shovels and dirtied their gumboots in order to construct the first stage of the grand plan. Local concretors and community members gave up their Saturdays to see this project commence and even the Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams pitched in.

Andrew McCoubrie, president of B2B community association, said Dunbogan Reserve was the ideal location to start.

"We could build an easy section of pathway in safety, with council funding which also significantly enriched a local public space," he said.

"The pour went phenomenally well. We set up formwork on the first Saturday, and completed a massive pour on the second Saturday. It's a real tribute to the expertise available in our local community that it proceeded so efficiently."

Seed funding of $18,000 for materials was obtained in a pilot partnership with the council which enabled completion of the first section.

"The amazing contribution of voluntary labour enabled this funding to be leveraged many times over. We got a massive bang for the council buck," Mr McCoubrie said.

Work will continue on Saturday, October 25 from 8am.

"We will plant the landscaped beds with low-lying species, place Bago rocks and install small steel sculptures," Mr McCoubrie said.

"Future plans include local school children lining the pathway with their painted handprints and an entrance sign that references the Dunbogan timber mill history and Aboriginal custodians of the area."

The committee has been simultaneously working on other sections of the B2B route in close collaboration with the council. Work has been divided into two stages; stage one - Apex Park Laurieton to Dunbogan Reserve and stage two - Dunbogan Reserve to Pilot Beach.

Community volunteers, including civil and structural engineers, surveyors, architects and landscape architects have already developed the concept design for stage one.

"The whole plan is a massive undertaking. We have to bite off small chunks as time and money allows," Mr McCoubrie said.

"We plan to follow the left hand side of the road all the way to Pilot Beach turnoff.

"Unfortunately, the sections that have the biggest safety issues take the most design work. They require significant approvals taking the longest time. However, we are well on the way to finalising the plan for stage one. "

Work in the pipeline includes Dunbogan Bridge to the Laurieton Co-op, the Tip Road and the area B2B call 'D2', a scenic riverside section between Bay Street and the Dunbogan Boatshed ? pending funding and approvals.

"One section we're really excited about is a 160m boardwalk skirting the mangroves opposite Longworth Road," Mr McCoubrie said.

Three pieces of fitness equipment will be integrated into a historical, environmental, Aboriginal, health and fitness installation in North Haven over the coming months.

Concept plans for B2B, (which are continuously updated) are available on the B2B website b2briverwalk.com.au. You can also friend the association on Facebook or email b2briverwalk@yahoo.com.au.