Despite being the worst spring flooding seen in Middlemarch, residents and local farmers coped well with the deluge.
Otago Regional Councillor and Middlemarch resident Kate Wilson said the community was well prepared after the Dunedin City Council supplied large amounts of material for sandbagging.
"The DCC have been right on to it, and the community got out yesterday afternoon and evening, and sandbagged most things that might need it."
She said most of the creeks in the area peaked about 10pm on Thursday, causing surface flooding to most of the back streets of Middlemarch, but it was all "manageable".
There was a "lull" in the rain yesterday morning and most of the flooding had gone back down.
But as forecast, the rainfall ramped up again yesterday afternoon.
"It’s pretty intense, and March Creek will spill for the first time this afternoon — but nothing too drastic.
"There’s not been any damage to property that I’ve heard of."
She said some farmers in the area believed it was the worst spring flooding they had seen, but not the worst flooding they had ever seen in the area.
She said many of them had been very busy on Thursday, moving stock to higher ground.
"It’s peak lambing time and it’s been pretty confronting for farmers.
"Moving stock with lambs is really hard.
"By doing it, farmers take the risk of the ewes being separated from their lambs during the move, and then they may not be able to find each other again.
"Everyone’s doing their best under the circumstances."
She said she had heard from farmers in the Kyeburn area who had told her "an extraordinary amount of water had come down the Kyeburn".
