The New Zealand government says spillway infrastructure that opened at the weekend in Edgecumbe represents one of the country’s largest completed flood resilience projects of recent times.

The six-stage Rangitaiki Floodway upgrade aims to take pressure off levees by diverting some river flows during significant weather events.

The final stage included increasing the capacity of the floodway and the construction of an additional spillway to manage flows entering from the Rangitaiki River above Edgecumbe.

“The completion of this multi-stage project is an impressive milestone that has been undertaken over 12 years,” Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson said. “It will bring much-needed flood protection for communities and will enable economic development opportunities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.”

The $NZ50 million ($46 million) floodway has received $NZ14 million ($13 million) in government funding, with the balance provided by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the community.

Edgecumbe suffered flooding eight years ago when the remnants of Cyclone Debbie brought heavy rainfall and the river breached its banks.

“We only need to think back to the 2017 Edgecumbe floods to realise how critically important this project is to the region” Mr Patterson said.