The Latest Breaking News from Echuca

Hidden near the banks of the Murray River in northern Victoria is a small distillery batting way above its average on the global scale.

The Victorian Department of Health says the greatest risk is in the north central and northern country districts, which include regional centres Bendigo, Shepparton, Echuca and Castlemaine.

Border communities are continuing to brace themselves as Victoria's flood emergency continues to impact the state's north, with more evacuation warnings issued over the weekend.

It is still not safe to return to the northern Victorian town of Echuca, but flood levels are expected to drop from major to moderate overnight.

As the Victorian city of Echuca prepared for flooding this week, the council moved rapidly to build a temporary earthen levee as others sandbagged. This kept some homes dry, likely worsened flooding in others, and prompted blame from many sides.

The levee was built early last week, with authorities saying its location was based on flood modelling, but some residents now fear their insurers won't pay up.

Echuca resident Elisha is determined to save her aunt's house, which is on the wrong side of the town's 2.5km-long flood levee. In Kerang, a local says most people are in good spirits as they wait for floodwaters to recede.

Residents hit out at a decision to pump floodwater towards houses in the Victorian town of Echuca as authorities defended a controversial levee.

Woman’s body found in flood waters, as heavy rainfall continues across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland