Papamoa residents are accusing Tauranga City Council of a lapse in public consultation in the construction of a cycle and pedestrian pathway which they say intrudes on their privacy.

Residents in Royal Palm Beach Estate, Papamoa say there was little consultation process on the pathway, approved for development by council in 2006, and have organised a petition to stop or postpone the walkway development.

Papamoa resident Jenny Johnson is angered at the 3metre wide walkway behind her property constructed by Tauranga City Council.

The pathway is one of the 10 links, 32km in total, running from Papamoa to Bethlehem and follows on from the recently installed southern section of the pathway, providing the link between the northern and southern sections.

The angered claims follow opposition to the walkway last December when tenders for the 1600m-long, 3m-wide sealed pathway from Gravatt Road to Hartford Avenue were opened.

At the time resident John Pitt, who received written confirmation of the proposal a week prior to the tenders, said he did not oppose the pathway, but could not see council's justification to spend more money.

'Everyone uses the reserve, but we cannot just see the need for it.

'How a bankrupt council can find the money for it?”

Laguna Key resident Jenny Johnson is both disappointed and angry with council's decision to bypass public opinion until after construction of the three metre wide pathway was dug out last week.

The gravel walkway backs on to residents' boundaries, about a metre in some cases and letters were sent out last December alerting residents to the walkway's construction.

'I first heard about it on March 12 and work started on the 14^th and I didn't receive the letter in November,” says Jenny.

Jenny, a Laguna Key resident of four years, questions whether public opinion really matters to council believing it is a waste of public money as the grassed area is already used for cyclists and walkers.

'It hasn't been thought through and maybe some compromise could have been reached with public consultation.

'When they put gravel down stones are going to be thrown all over the place. It's going to invite problems,” says Jenny.

She firmly believes council needs to put the area back to its original state, although that could result in more money spent.

'It's tragic and it's an eye sore.”

Tauranga City Council project manager Helmut Marko dispels any reports against the pathway, claiming it has always been part of the city council's future plan.

'This is an ongoing project. This is not a one-off thing.”

He understands the petition signed by members of the community, opposing the section of the pathway between Palm Beach Boulevard and Hartford Avenue, will be put before council on April 8.

The opposed section was proposed to begin in the next few weeks, while the Palm Beach Boulevard and Gravatt Road section is currently under construction.

Helmut, who was informed of the petition yesterday, says the petition and a report from the project team will be put before council on the scheduled date.

'They are asking not to improve the existing pathway which is just grass.”

'It will really be up to council to hear their concerns.”