Homes threatened by flooding in Wānaka

Heavy rain overnight filled a Wānaka developer's water retention plant to over-capacity, forcing contractors to release water down Wineberry Lane onto Aubrey Rd, resulting in gardens being flooded and houses being sandbagged.

An Otago Daily Times reporter at the scene said an engineer, a flood prevention manager, contractors, the Wānaka Fire Brigade and a digger were on site working to control the water flow this morning. 

The reporter said an engineer at the site said a controlled water release was the best of two bad scenarios.   

Letting the pond burst would have created a "tidal wave'' of water that would have been even worse.

A steady stream of water was flowing downhill at 10.30am, the ODT reporter said.

- additional reporting by Regan Harris