KEY POINTS:
The level of the lake formed by a landslide in Mount Aspiring National Park is continuing to sit just below the top of the leaky dam that encloses it.
A webcam installed to monitor the newly-formed dam and lake in the upper Young River Valley is not working because the weather is so bad, but a time lapse camera put in by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences is snapping pictures every 60 seconds.
Dr Gavin Palmer, Otago Regional Council director of environmental engineering and natural hazards, said observations made this morning showed that the lake level was unchanged from yesterday. It remained 2.5 metres from the crest of the dam.
A Department of Conservations spokesman said the level could be as little as 2 metres below the top of the dam but readings were difficult in the conditions.
Heavy rain was predicted in the area but it was now snowing and a check of the level this afternoon was not possible because of poor visibility.
The area has been closed to trampers. The popular Gillespie Track is in the area.
Residents and visitors in the Makaroa area were being kept informed of the risk of collapse, and possible flooding hazards downstream by civil defence staff from Queenstown Lakes District Council, Dr Palmer said.
Officials from both councils and the Department of Conservation are involved in monitoring the lake, the newest to be formed.
The lake, which is 2.5km long, 500m wide and 100m deep just behind the dam has not been named as authorities are not convinced it will continue to exist.
- NZPA
