All hands on deck are needed for an upcoming cycle way development between Paengaroa and Rotorua.

Volunteers are needed to help clear an overgrown forest trail near Paengaroa so that a beautiful piece of bush can be included in the Paengaroa to Rotorua cycle trail.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is supporting the quest for funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency to build a connection to the cycle trail from Paengaroa to Okere so cyclists can avoid using a busy section of SH33.

A community working bee is planned for Saturday September 8, which will start manually clearing overgrowth on an old forestry walking trail through the Roydon Downs Scenic Reserve owned by the Department of Conservation.

The number of volunteers who turn up on the day is thought to be critical to the success of this cycleway.

Work on the Paengaroa to Okere link is being led by the Bay of Plenty Charitable Trails Trust and will potentially form part of the Tauranga Moana Cycle Trail and the National Cycle Trail.

The project is partially funded by Western Bay of Plenty District Council which will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the trail.

NZTA has assessed the trail and is keen to continue to work together to explore funding opportunities.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council project coordinator Geoff Canham says the two-kilometre forest link is critical to the cycling route from Paengaroa as it enables cyclists to get off a busy stretch of SH33 for the trail route to Rotorua.

'The forest link is a beautiful stretch for riding on good contour and through stunning native bush – it will add a lovely link to the already popular route.

'The voluntary hours by the community may be able to be considered as our contribution to the project and could improve our chances of getting extra funding. It's only a relatively short section but we need the investment to finish the job.”

The overgrown stretch is an old public reserve walking track through a piece of Department of Conservation land within the Western Bay of Plenty District.

Council has a concession licence to develop and use this section of the cycle trail.

Ngati Pikiao and Ngati Makino iwi alongside DOC have given their blessing for the cycle trail to be built and consents for the work have been obtained.

Council Group Manager Infrastructure Services Gary Allis says it makes perfect sense to provide a safe and scenic route to enable cyclists to avoid SH33.

'This piece of trail is important as it connects Western Bay with Rotorua and adds to the overall Tauranga Moana Cycle Trail to which Council is providing funding over the next 10 years.''

Council's vision is for a series of linked trails to be developed over time, covering the length of the District, connecting Waihi - Waihi Beach – Katikati – Omokoroa – Tauranga – Paengaroa – Maketu – Te Puke – Pukehina – Rotoiti. This piece of forest trail will enable more off-road riding from Paengaroa to Rotorua.

Please register your interest by 6 September 2018 at wboptrails@hotmail.com to take part in the community day.

All volunteers will go into the draw for free pohutukawa trees from Geoff Canham Consulting and other spot prizes to be awarded.

Volunteers will need closed footwear, a water bottle and gloves. If possible volunteers are asked to bring non-motorised hand tools such as a pruning saw or secateurs. A BBQ will be in action on the day. Please leave dogs at home as the event will be held on a mixture of farmland and DOC Reserve where there is native fauna.