In light of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Takitimu North Link Project team are offering their help to the community for any cleans up or outdoor maintenance needed.

Contractors for the Takitimu North Link project, Fulton Hogan and HEB Joint Venture have been offering help to their project neighbours in the Bethlehem area, through Wairoa and Te Mete Valleys, and Te Puna.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency infrastructure delivery regional manager Jo Wilton says they sent out an email to residents asking after their welfare and offering to help clean up sections, unblock drains, or anything else they require.

'Due to the weather, the team couldn't get much construction work done so they've been only too happy to help those in need after Cyclone Gabrielle.”

Jo says Waka Kotahi have received about 30 responses to their community call out.

'Most of the requests have been to help out with clearing trees and large branches that have come down during the cyclone.”

Others just needed some general yard work done.

North link team member Campbell Harrison getting stuck into some garden clean-up work. Photo: Georgia Minkhorst/SunLive.

Eighty-five-year-old Bethlehem resident Mary Watson jumped at the opportunity to get some free garden maintenance from the project team.

She says she can't afford tree and lawn workers anymore, so is thankful for the help.

'The tree person is just getting over the top as far as costs are concerned.

'The fact that they've [road work contractors] come around because they can't work on the Takitimu North project –it was just a miracle.”

One neighbouring resident of the project responded to Waka Kotahi saying: 'Fortunately we are okay and do not need help but we wanted to say how impressed we were by the email you sent out. We thought that was an incredible example of community involvement.”

Thomas Courtney, left, Bethlehem resident Mary Watson and Campbell Harrison happy with the garden clean efforts. Photo: Georgia Minkhorst/SunLive.

'The Takitimu North Link project team will be working in this awesome community for around five years – it's just about being good neighbours,” says Jo.

The date for starting up works again on the Takitimu North Link project is yet to be confirmed.

'As soon as weather conditions allows, the team is really keen to get back on the job,” says Jo.