Queenstown expected to flood overnight

Floodwater in Southland. Photo / NZPA

Queenstown businesses are expected to be flooded overnight as the rain-drenched resort town prepares for Lake Wakatipu to burst its banks.

A worst-case scenario would see the flooding affect 35 businesses in Queenstown's central business district, and several properties in the lakeside townships of Kingston and Glenorchy.

Queenstown District Council Mayor Clive Geddes said forecasts from the MetService and Otago District Council this afternoon confirmed the flooding would occur overnight.

Flooding had already started in some low lying areas by noon today and the council warned businesses to ensure they were protected.

"As we move into the hours of darkness we would like to think we are as prepared as we possibly can be," Mr Geddes said.

The council put up wave breaking pipes and sandbags in an effort to keep the rising waters out of the town centre.

"On top of the lake level we need to take into consideration the potential for damage from wave action because wind is forecast," Mr Geddes said.

Large 900mm wave break pipes had been installed on the lake front to combat the problem.

A boom has been placed around Queenstown Bay to block debris.

Two sandbagging stations had been set up and members of the public had volunteered to help fill bags.

Lake levels are expected to peak in the early hours of the morning and the council would monitor the situation overnight.

Residents living next to Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri are also on high alert as water levels continue to rise as heavy rains land in the headwaters.

Invercargill, Southland District and Gore mayors have put aside compensation for the victims of flooding earlier this week.

The region has been drenched since the weekend, with the worst flooding in 10 years knocking out phone lines to Te Anau, prompting the evacuation of trampers, causing the closure of numerous roads and schools and waterlogging farms.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt told The Southland Times there was $170,000 in a flood relief fund put aside for just such an event as this week's floods.

Depending on which part of Southland the flood victims lived in, they should apply for some of the money through Mr Shadbolt, Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno or Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks.

Environment Southland remained on flood watch today as a band of steady rain moved over the headwaters of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau and toward the Mataura River.

The MetService was predicting the band would move farther east, dumping a further 100-150mm of rain on catchment areas until tomorrow morning.

Environment Southland's director of environmental management, Warren Tuckey, said the rain would have a "significant impact" on the region's already swollen rivers.

"We will resume flood warnings if the rainfall and river conditions reach our preset trigger levels, bearing in mind that the catchments are already saturated," Mr Tuckey said.

- NZPA