By Marjorie Cook of 
Flooding in Wānaka this morning was threatening six properties. Photo: Otago Daily Times / Regan Harris
Heavy rain overnight filled a Wānaka developer's water retention plant to over-capacity, forcing contractors to release water down Wineberry Lane onto Aubrey Road, 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's Fire Brigade and a digger were on site working to control the water flow this morning.
The reporter said an engineer at the site explained that 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 down hill at 10.30am, the ODT reporter said.
- additional reporting by Regan Harris
- This story was originally published by the Otago Daily Times.
