The riverwalk footpath is a community driven project that proposes a 11km continuous shared pathway between North Haven breakwall and Pilot Beach in the Camden Haven.

The first sections of the pathway were constructed earlier in 2003 as a partnership between community, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and the state government, on the Laurieton side of the Camden Haven Inlet.

The remaining sections of the pathway are titled D3, D5, D8, D10 and, D11 and will complete the project which has been driven by the B2B committee in collaboration with council.

A number of the remaining section of pathway intersect sensitive environmental areas, such as mapped coastal areas and littoral rainforest.

In October, a private landowner donated a swathe of his property to ensure the project pushes forward to the next stage.

Steve Southon gifted the land to council so one of the B2B project's most dangerous pedestrian sections can proceed.

Read more: Generous land donation forges new pathways in Beach to Beach

The finalisation of the proposed pathway will look to traverse and/or run adjacent to these areas which have varying ownership which includes road reserve, private property, Crown Lands and National Park.

An Environmental Impacts Statement (EIS) is required and council has appointed Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to complete the EIS and detailed design for the pathway.

The detailed design will be developed in conjunction with the EIS outcomes, with the aim to minimise environmental impacts, improve safety, and generally prevent redesigns.

The main objectives of the Beach to Beach Riverwalk include:

The project will assist in appropriately responding to the increased need for recreational facilities, in line with state and federal government objectives around health and wellbeing.

Council will meet with the community on this final stretch of the project but is seeking feedback via the Beach to Beach Riverwalk Footpath Survey. To complete the survey, go to haveyoursay.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/beach-to-beach-riverwalk-footpath

The B2B Committee will be at the Dunbogan Boatshed most mornings to talk with people and assisting in the Have Your Say process.

Submissions should be received no later than Thursday, December 17.

A detailed design is expected to be finalised in March 2021 before going on public exhibition.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.