The floodwaters further upstream at Blanchetown are dropping visibly too, with lines of silt marking the dozens of homes that have spent weeks submerged.
"We've still got properties inundated, we still have levees being engaged and ... the flow is still very fast, so it's a pretty hazardous place to be," Mr Pritchard said.The flood is still considered an emergency, but authorities say volunteers will be needed as more people begin to gain access to their homes.
"We'll look at the communities that do need help, and … look at how we can coordinate that volunteer force to help them," he said.Dozens of homes and shacks remain submerged along the river.More than 1,000 property owners have registered for a clean-up inspection, but Mr Zimmermann hopes that number will increase so authorities can plan for how much rubbish needs to be removed.
The number of flood-affected homes is estimated to be about 4,000 but the exact number is still being counted.
No one could have foreseen that holiday houses built in a flood plain would be flooded at some stage. Just tragic for the people who had to use one of their other holiday homes this summer. Here's an idea - tax the poor to fund the clean up.
''We're evaluating all of these planning regulations that would impact, and potentially minimise, the level of damage in future flooding,' he said.' Given climate change, this is the only sensible thing to do. I'd imagine insurance renewal notices will be a bit terse too.
I would not call those homes shacks.
Don’t build your house on a flood plain