Murray River tourism and hospitality operators in Victoria's north-west may be facing another difficult tourism season as flooding results in mass cancellations.
Dockside Cafe and All Seasons caravan park and houseboats owner Sean Bromley said he was devastated after being forced to dismiss 10 staff several weeks ago.
"We've been dramatically affected by the floods, even though we've been given plenty of notice," Mr Bromley said.
"Our cafe has about one-and-a-half metres of water running through it at the moment."
Mr Bromley said all 16 of his houseboats were stuck in the Mildura marina.
"We probably aren't going to be able to run for at least a couple of months, I'd say," he said.
"I think we've refunded close to half million dollars and there's probably another $200,000 of refunds.
"We don't really know how far we've got to keep refunding to."
Peak flooding is yet to hit Mildura, which is typically a tourism hotspot over summer.
Floods force career change
Scott Thorp has operated paddle-steamers on the Murray his entire life but was forced to find new employment when the river was closed to recreation during October.
Mr Thorp is now working on a grain farm in Underbool, near Ouyen.
"The principles are the exact opposite," he said.
"We try and stay on the water and off the land, but they [harvesters] try and stay on the land and out of the water, but you have to do what you have to do."
But Mr Thorp said the paddle-steamer business would survive.
"There will always be a need for tourism, there will always be a need for the boats, there will always be a need for someone to run them and there will always be people travelling through," he said.
Still open for business
Mildura Regional Development chief executive officer Brett Millington said that despite a strong October and November season, visitation was already starting to drop off.
"There's a number of cancellations occurring [because] people are not necessarily understanding what the flood event might mean in our region," he said.
"The perception is that we could be cut off from roads.
"We are getting towards the peak now, and whilst there are a lot of people affected, there is still an opportunity for visitation and enjoyment of our region."
