As of 10am this morning the level of Lake Wakatipu is 310.86, Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Duncan Field said.

This meant that the QLDC and Otago Regional Council?s agreed first flood warning level of 310.8 had been reached.

"What that means is that the two councils will now enhance monitoring and increase communications. It is still very much a watching brief," Mr Field said.

It was predicted that Lake Wakatipu was unlikely to peak until this evening.

"At this stage the Shotover River is beginning to drop and there is good outflow under the Kawarau Dam. It is not looking likely that we will reach the first flood level of 311.25 but the lake could rise as much as half a metre yet," Mr Field said.

The 311.25 level, which is the agreed first flooding level, needed to be understood in context.

"That level would see minor flooding in low lying reserve areas, it is in no way inundation of central Queenstown and as I have said I don?t think we will get to that level, so for now it?s a matter of enhanced monitoring and communication between the ORC, QLDC and the business community and any affected outlying communities," Mr Field.

The forecast showed a large high was now due.

"The rain has stopped and I think we will see some settled weather for the remainder of the week but looking long term, another front, at this stage, is predicted in a week's time and obviously we will want to keep a close eye on that," Mr Field said.

Lake Wanaka also increased rapidly overnight, but was still 1.2 metres below the first alarm level at 10am this morning.

Meanwhile anyone could monitor the lake level on the ORC website www.orc.govt.nz or on the home page of the QLDC website www.qldc.govt.nz or by calling the flowphone 0800 426 463.

The lake level was monitored and the information updated on an hourly basis.

ENDS

For further information please contact Duncan Field 03 441 0499

By: Sarah