The state and federal governments have announced a combined $1 billion to help Victorians get back on their feet after the floods.
Victorians have been warned the flood disaster was far from over and to be prepared for more.
Victoria's Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said businesses and not-for-profits in 56 of the state's 79 council areas could apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support recovery efforts, from a joint state-federal program worth $877 million.
"Flood-affected Victorians will get more help to continue their recovery with more than $152 million in further funding," Ms Symes said.
People in council areas not listed were also encouraged to apply, as they may nonetheless be eligible.
Farmers can get up to $75,000, sports clubs $5,000 and medium and large businesses directly impacted by floodwaters $200,000.
Applications open soon, and any grant received through the existing $5,000 Small Business Immediate Flood Relief and $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Relief programs will be included in the maximum amounts available.
For support with payments, clean-up or any other flood issues, Victorians can contact the Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
Other funding
A total of $20 million would go to councils to help Victorians who had no flood insurance on their homes, to assess the damage and help them return.
There will be $600 water bill rebates for Melbourne customers who had over-floor flooding; $22 million will establish 16 regional recovery hubs with access to vital services.
LegalAid, community legal centres and Aboriginal Legal Services would get nearly $8 million so people could get timely advice on their legal needs.
Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations would get $2 million for culturally appropriate flood relief for Indigenous Victorians.
Ms Symes said another $13 million would be spent on communications and information sessions to let people know what help was available.
She said the support would be accessible to people with little internet access, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
SES Victoria Chief Officer Tim Wiebusch said October was its busiest month ever, with 13,689 requests for assistance.
Funding welcomed
The new funding has been welcomed in Rochester, where the Campaspe River peaked at record levels last month and devastated the town of 3,000.
Glenda Nichol from the Rochester Business Network said the separate funding streams for farmers, businesses and sports were crucial.
"Our sporting facilities have just been ruined; our tennis courts' synthetic turf has big wave ripples in it," she said.
"The funds people have already applied for are a little bit slow coming in. I know people who applied on day one, yesterday received emails saying the money will be in their bank [accounts] in the next five days.
"But considering the flooding was three weeks ago, I really feel it's quite slow so they're going to see if they can speed things up."
Months without a home ahead
Some residents of Kerang, on the flooded Loddon River north of Bendigo, have begun returning to their homes to start assessing the damage.
Farmer Dennis Gillingham said many houses were still waterlogged and would not be liveable for months.
"We don't know the extent of the impact but the most important thing is for people to have houses to return to, it's heart-breaking when people lose their homes and have to start again," he said.
"For a lot of people, it's the second time this has happened in 11 years."
He said nearby towns Murrabit and Benjeroop were now fighting off the floods.
Murrabit Trading General Store owner Eric Granger said the floods were far from over in his community.
"The levee banks are sodden wet because of the rain, when they have a metre of water against them it's very hard to maintain them," he said.
"All our feed has been lost, we've had to get cows and stock out, there will be crop losses.
"A lot of access roads are cut so we can't get in there to do repairs or anything, we won't be looking at anything like that for another week too if it keeps raining."
Flood watches remain out for most of Victoria, with water storages at capacity and above-average rainfall likely for up to eight more weeks.
