The plan for a loop, along Tanilba Avenue, and back along the water’s edge near the boat ramp, was enacted amid talk that Port Stephens and Newcastle councils should merge.

Tanilba Bay Parks, Gardens and Halls committee member Fran Corner said it was Port Stephens Council that had called for ideas.

“When they said we should act quickly on any wishes we had, before a merger took place, we said ‘we want a loop path for the residents’,” Ms Corner said.

The section of path opened on Wednesday enables residents to get down to the water front, off Tanilba Avenue, past the playground opposite the hall.

Ms Corner said it would be necessary to build a detention pond before the path is finished, with the desired route prone to ponding. 

“We’ve only been able to do the bits that didn’t require a drainage study,” she said.

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Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and the mayor Ryan Palmer officially opened stage three on Thursday. This was made possible with $10,000 in funds from the state government’s Community Building Partnerships program.

“The community has really driven this,” Ms Washington said.

“It’s a need that the community identified and worked toward and for that I congratulate them. Imagine being a resident at the aged care home, living in this beautiful area, not being able to access the very thing that makes this area special.”

Cr Palmer said those people behind the project were to be commended.

“Council is going to be out there supporting any group doing positive things for the community,” he said.

Cr Sarah Smith also praised the volunteers.

“They’re the ones that applied for the grant and matched it dollar-for-dollar,” she said. 

The middle section of the path awaiting completion is about 140 metres long.