Residents asked council to consider using an alternative surface instead of ripping up the grassed area next to the sailing club, destroying its natural beauty – but to no avail.

Local resident Brian Muller said the path would run directly in front of his home and although he supported the path as a whole, he was disappointed residents’ concerns were not heard.

“It is environmental vandalism,” he said.

“The grass made it very appealing and natural with the trees on either side which led down to the water.

“This two-metre wide concrete path looks disgraceful. It’s so wrong.”

Mr Muller said a regular walker was almost brought to tears this week when she saw the construction area.

Work began on the path a few days ago. Mr Muller said in mid-2013, he and other locals asked council to consider sturdy matting for the path surface, so the grass look was maintained.

“Council said it would consider it, but we never heard back,” he said.

“The matting would have allowed for the grass to grow back through but remain solid as a pathway.

“Council should have been sympathetic and considered residents close to the development and also been sympathetic to the environment.

“A little further up, there are areas where they are using road base rather than concrete – even that would have been better.

“Concrete is about the harshest material you can get.”

Nearby resident Frank Cornell said he and his wife Pam were aghast at the approximately 250-metre-long path but knew nothing could change now.

“It is a path to nowhere,” he said.

“The money could have been spent on other local community projects such as a second soccer field for local children.

“This was meant to be for a walk around the bay, not a cycle or skateboard around the bay.

“You don’t need concrete for a walking track.”

Shoalhaven City Council was contacted about the issue but had not responded by press time.