Queenstown Lakes District Council's reserves manager Gordon Bailey said the town was preparing for a busy weekend, with athletes and spectators due to arrive for the Challenge Wanaka triathlon.
"The beaches have a big focus on them. We wanted to tidy up and make them safe and more user-friendly," Mr Bailey said.
The high rainfall last week, which brought lakes to flood-alert levels, had not affected the current Queenstown Lakes district-wide fire ban, Mr Bailey said.
A total fire ban would remain in place for "the immediate future", the Queenstown Lakes principal rural fire officer said.
After discussions with Department of Conservation staff, it was decided the recent wet weather was not sufficient to downgrade fire-risk levels.
"We are still predicting a long, hot, dry summer - despite the wet weather - and we are coming into our driest months," Mr Bailey said.
Lake Wanaka was dropping slowly yesterday after last week's heavy rain.
At 5pm, the lake was at 278.703m above sea level, 69cm below the first flood-warning level of 279.4m.
