While it is well short of the 1.7 kilometres required, it is a start the Callala and Myola communities are proud of.

President of the Callala beach Progress Association Greg Westlake said residents and visitors to the coastal villages had done well to raise about $20,000 for the path.

“At one of our progress meetings we asked the community what they wanted in the area as a priority and a shared footpath to Myola was unanimous,” he said.

“The road to Myola is very narrow and a lot of people use it because there’s also a caravan park and boat ramp there.”

A water-taxi service linking Myola to Huskisson has also increased traffic on the road.

Mr Westlake said the community started raising money about 18 months ago.

“We held art exhibitions, book sales, sausage sizzles, a bush dance, discos and we are selling pavers that people can have their name or a design engraved on,” he said.

“The pavers are different sizes and cost $50, $100 or $200.

“We have sold about 120 pavers. I think that is pretty good going for a small community,” he said.

Shoalhaven councillors Greg Watson and Jemma Tribe were recently invited to inspect the footpath in the hope they might help lobby council to find more funds for the project.

The entire shared path is expected to cost about $200,000 at $120 per metre.

Council has committed $15,000 toward the project this financial year.

Cr Watson said when communities started work on projects themselves they usually had a better chance of attracting funds.

“If a community is going to put money toward a project like this it becomes an irresistible morsel for elected representatives,” Cr Watson said.

“That is what happened with the cancer centre.”

Cr Watson hoped council could find more money to help keep the project moving.

Work on the path will now move to construction of the entry area where the fund-raising pavers will be laid and design panels with mosaic art works will be installed.

Once the entry is complete more funds will need to be raised before work can continue.