Construction of a 3.5km cycleway and walkway along Pukehina Estuary has received a $50,000 boost from the Western Bay District Council.
"It is a huge step forward for us," Pukehina Beach Ratepayers Association project leader John Cook said.
The contribution to the $250,000 project was the biggest of the nine major grants approved by the council this week from its community grants scheme.
The path and boardwalk skirting the town side of the estuary from the surf club to Cutwater Rd has been nearly six years in the planning and could be finished in three to four years.
"We are really excited about the project - this is a great start," Mr Cook said.