Four months on from one of Tasmania's most devastating floods, Clinton Hobby and his family still cannot move back into their Deloraine home.
They were one of the worst-affected families as parts of the state were hit by record-breaking rainfall in October last year.
"It's been a nightmare," Clinton Hobby said.
The family live across the road from the Meander River which reached a record height of 9.45 metres at Strathbridge, downstream of Deloraine.
They watched helplessly as the flood water lapped almost two feet into their double-storey home.
"It's been completely devastating for my family and myself," he said.
"I can't even put it into words, the toll it's taken on us, it's just unbelievable."
The family are still waiting for their insurance to fix the damage.
"Just got to play a waiting game with them, the bank's got to realise you can't play with people's lives the way they are, it's just not good," he said.
"It's only been Monday just gone that the bank has got a second quote for the works, so we're still waiting for a decision."
Their house needs to be completely gutted, and new flooring, plaster and cabinetry installed.
The family had also just completed a bathroom renovation, which was undone by the flood damage.
"We'd move back in now if we could, we just want to be back home and get our lives back," he said.
"The longer it takes, the bigger impact it's having on our family … my eldest daughter is going to uni next month and the impact it's had on her, has just been enormous."
Significant financial loss for timber business
Across town and the MacLaine family is still trying to get back on their feet after more than a metre of water rushed through their timber mill.
"The water was taller than me in parts and there were logs everywhere and timber scattered, fences were down … it was devastating," Hugh MacLaine said.
Mr MacLaine said they lost at least three loaded log trucks worth of timber down the river. Many ended up in Launceston's seaport.
"Yeah the loss of income, and the cost of cleaning up, we had to rack and dry all the timber, it's all a cost," he said.
"We still don't know the final number of how much it cost us.
"We're in a flood zone area so we're not insured for floods, so basically we have to suffer the consequences of what happened.
"Things are getting better for us though, we're busy, there's a national shortage of timber so we are busy at the moment, we just have to move forward."
Footy club repairs underway
Don Tracey is the president of the Deloraine Football Club and said he would not forget seeing more than a metre and a half of water in the clubrooms.
"It was quite devastating, there was extensive damage right through," he said.
The entry, kitchen area, function room, change rooms and bathrooms have all been gutted to make way for new plaster and flooring.
"It's been a long process to get it to where it is now but there's still a long way to go.
"We do often have events here during the off-season and we haven't been able to so that'll impact the club's bottom line."
With the Northern Tasmanian Football Association season set to start in April, the club said it was hopeful repairs to the change rooms and function space at least would be completed by then.
"Players have been able to use the ground for the pre-season just not the facilities, and the grass is looking good now so it should be okay for the season," he said.
The state government yesterday announced further support is available for private landholders and sport and recreation organisations following the floods.
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to help cover the costs of cleaning up debris or repairing property damage for private landowners, while up to $25,000 can be claimed by not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations.
