The bridge extension at Manaia Road Causeway in Tairua has been completed on time and under budget, says the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

The bridge was officially opened today with a ceremony attended by the local community who were joined by district council and Waikato Regional council staff members and elected members.

The bridge extension at Manaia Road Causeway in Tairua has been officially opened today. Photo: TCDC

The 16m extension of the bridge took approximately six weeks to complete with the district council stumping up $930,000 towards the works.

Mayor Glenn Leach has praised the completion of the bridge extension as a 'successful result”.

'We want to thank all the contractors and staff who have been involved through either the build, or management, of the project,” says Glenn.

'And we want to thank the community for their patience while road diversions and closures were in place in some areas around Tairua during construction.”

The regional council is now carrying out stop-bank and re-contouring improvement works of the flood plain and Graham's Creek channel, and has allocated $600,000 towards the works.

These works should take about 12 months to complete and will be followed by restoration planting of some 12,000 plants in the area which will be completely finished in 2017.

The combination of the bridge extension, stop-bank re-contouring improvement works should help keep the road open during flooding and allow floodwater to drain more easily.

Tairua-Pauanui Community Board chair Bob Renton says this project has seen a strong and focused collaboration between regional and district council and the stakeholders working group.

'We are so pleased a workable solution was found and we've seen a successful outcome so far,” says Bob. 'This is what can be achieved when locals are involved in decision making that affects the local community.”