The construction of a much anticipated cycleway between Omokoroa and Tauranga has officially begun.
In Omokoroa at midday on Friday Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson, Minister of Transport Simon Bridges and Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby shovelled the first sod in a formal ceremony.
A small crowd helped mark the official start of the 19km trail - a link between Omokoroa and Tauranga's existing urban cycleway network.
The $7.7 million project was part of a $17m package of cycling and walking projects to be rolled out in the region over the next five years.
Mr Paterson said it was a small start to a big project. The cycleway would anchor this side of the district to the greater cycleway network, he said.