Many flood-prone properties on the Murray River have become archipelagos of sorts, since the ongoing flooding began.
With damage costs mounting, some residents are asking for the government to step in and help.
But others who've chosen to live on a flood plain say the benefits of the river lifestyle far outweigh the consequences of being inundated by water.
Christiane Jaeger chose to live on the flood plain in the Murray River town of Iraak, Victoria, knowing the property flooded in 1956.
Ms Jaeger has paid thousands to build a levee to protect her property.
Despite this, they are more concerned for the health of the local environment, including the survival of the local water birds and the flood plain Black Box gums, than holding back the floodwater.
"The environment needs this flood and I'm happy to accept the consequences if the levee breaks," they say.
"We are in an extinction crisis and the flood plains need water to survive."
Government buybacks an option
Ms Jaeger believes the flood waters are necessary for the health of the land.
But they also understand that for some home owners, government subsidies may be the only way they can relocate from flood-prone areas.
"Buybacks of these flood plains could provide more areas for environmental recovery — we need to do more to maintain a healthy environment and address this extinction crisis," they say.
"If this event teaches us anything, [it's that] we need to live with it, and give it room and space to flourish, then we will flourish too."
Alan Whyte is a third-generation flood plain citrus grower.
His family have lived through multiple flood events and he says this flood was not unexpected.
"The flood we've got now is not a natural disaster, it's nothing like it, it's only a middle-sized flood and it's a good thing," Mr Whyte says.
He doesn't believe that people who have chosen to live on a flood plain should expect government bailouts.
"I'm not really sure that they should be surprised," he says.
"If it gets wet occasionally … I'm not really sure it's anyone else's or the government's problem."
Mr Whyte agrees the environment needs regular flooding and that the current flood is necessary and crucial to the survival of the ecosystem.
"[This flood is] not terrible, it's marvellous," he says.
"We should be attracting people into the region to admire the river floods, not scaring them off by suggesting it's a natural disaster, which it's not."
For Colin Cook, this is the fourth time his Murray River property in Curlwaa, NSW has been isolated by flood waters since 1956.
"We've been flooded about four times since we bought this property and at the moment the water is lapping at my door," Mr Cook says.
He's always prepared for floods and uses a boat to travel the two kilometres to the nearest road, where he and his neighbours park their cars.
Mr Cook says the benefits of the river lifestyle are why he chooses to stay.
Mr Cook's neighbour, citrus grower John Waters, built a levee to protect his orange grove some time ago.
But the flood waters broke through last week, leaving the grove beneath two metres of water.
He's not fazed though, and says floods are par for the course.
"We live on a flood plain, so you've got to expect there's a fair chance you'll get flooded," Mr Waters says.
