Possible changes to a proposed cycleway from Omokoroa to Tauranga have the potential to sway Tauranga City Council into supporting the development of the cycle trail.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby, in a Long Term Plan media briefing, outlined how a new route has the potential to reduce costs and allow the option of linking into a walkway planned to be built to Miles Lane, along the Tauranga side of the Wairoa River.

Cyclists take part in the Bay of Plenty Community Trails Trust cycle rally. Photo: Cameron Avery.

The new option follows strong community support for council to reverse its decision not to fund a $500,000 share of the Tauranga leg of the cycleway.

The decision sparked a number of critical submissions in council's recent Long Term Plan hearings, while Tauranga Roundtable members presented council with $100,000 aimed at provoking a U-turn on the decision.

Back in February, council voted six-to-four against providing the $500,000 on the grounds that the government should be paying for the national trail, with council money being spent on cycle trails within the city.

The city section of the trail is from the Wairoa River to Ngatai Road, near Otumoetai Road, where it will connect up with the city cycle network.

It is believed the Tauranga Energy Consumers Trust will pay for the bridge across the Wairoa River.

Stuart says instead of the cycleway bridging the Wairoa River close to the railway bridge and following the railway to Ngatai Road, the new proposal is to cross the river at Waimarino.

The cycleway would then traverse Parau Farms, behind Taniwha Lane, and link directly into Bethlehem.

He says most of the esplanade land for the riverside trail option had been acquired.

A full report on the route change will be handed to councillors during next week's LTP deliberations, which will consider some 654 submissions and petitions.

The deliberations are the next step before the LTP is finalised on June 30.