As one end of the Murray River in South Australia hits its flood peak, communities further downstream are waiting to see what damage rising water levels will cause.
The State Emergency Service announced on Wednesday the river level had fallen at Renmark the previous night for the first time since the beginning of the Murray River flood event.
It comes as flows across the SA border dropped for a fifth consecutive day, down to about 175 gigalitres on Wednesday.
While the river is expected to remain higher than normal throughout the next two months, it is expected to gradually drop away.
For Renmark Paringa Museum chairperson Wayne Howell, knowing the flooding had peaked gave him some assurance.
"It's been a relief from everybody's perspective," he said.
"There's been a lot of work going into upgrading and bringing the levee banks up to scratch.
"Now they've been tested and it's proven to be successful, we'll wait for the water to drop slowly and we'll start putting everything back together again."
The danger 'hasn't passed'
Renmark Paringa Council chef executive officer Tony Siviour said the town's levee systems would be engaged until flows across the SA border fell below 120gL per day, which was expected some time in February.
"Even though the flow is peaking, it's just a milestone in this journey and we've still got a long way to go," he said.
"It [the danger] certainly hasn't passed."
He said wind erosion was "of concern to us and we need to keep our eyes open for that".
Fears of the unknown downstream
It is only two hours away by car, but water along the river takes about two weeks to travel from Renmark to the Mid-Murray town of Mannum.
As the water peaks in Renmark, final preparations are underway in Mannum, with authorities keeping a close eye on towns upstream.
Mannum resident and Lions Club secretary Paul Greenway said there was a fear of the unknown as the river rose.
"Most people have never gone through this before, or if they had it's just a memory," he said.
"It'll go through Renmark, then Berri and Waikerie, so by the time it makes its way here we might have a good idea what to expect and we'll have a good idea of what time or day it will be, so that will help."
Mr Greenway said cleaning up after the flood could take years and he did not see the peak as the end of the emergency.
"It's very stressful for people, not only not knowing how high it's going to be, but what damage is going to be done," he said.
"There's quite a few roads to and from Mannum that are already damaged and the Mannum Waters Marina is just flooded completely, so that's huge damage.
"It'll take two or three years to get back to the way it was only a month or two ago."
