MOVING back into North Wagga has been far easier for some residents than others.
Residents in Gardiner Street returned to water damage and a horrible smell thanks to sewage, while people just streets away found their homes untouched by the floods.
Thrown into chaos by the evacuation, residents were given the OK to return from the State Emergency Service (SES) on Friday afternoon and many are now awaiting the outcome of insurance claims.
Ricky and Marree Bruce were among the worst-affected residents, living in Gardiner Street. They returned home to find their home smelled so bad they could not stay.
"It's unlivable ... the sewage didn't go through the home but under it and the smell comes through," Marree Bruce said.
"The real estate were really good and they let us out of our lease and found us somewhere else to live ... we copped it from the river and then again from the water that flowed down from Gumly.
"It has been a tough time for our family, my sister's house at The Rock was flooded in October."
Mrs Bruce said one positive from the ordeal was they were able to rescue the family animals, which included a number of horses, sheep, goats and dogs.
While Mrs Bruce cleans up, Cath Quilter and her family have been able to move straight back into their home, which they bought just three weeks ago.
"The SES have been fabulous, they gave us ample time to pack but it took us four days to move in and half a day to evacuate so it was certainly chaotic," she said.
"It was a pretty anxious time, sitting and waiting for the river to rise but we were fortunate not to have any water through the house and we sandbagged our drains to keep the sewage out."
Mrs Quilter said she had missed some of her children's Christmas events due to the floods but was glad to find everything in working order on her return.
Residents are also advised to be aware of mosquitoes and the danger they pose through the transmission of diseases, especially with stagnant water and sewage across North Wagga.
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