More than 700 people living in New South Wales' largest inland city have spent the night away from their homes.
On Friday, the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga peaked at 9.72 metres, causing major flooding in the city for the first time in a decade.
More than 100 people have registered at the city's evacuation centre, most from the suburb of North Wagga Wagga.
The suburb sits on a flood plain and was last inundated in 2012 when the river reached 10.5 metres.
At 9.72 metres, North Wagga doesn't go under, but hundreds of people have been evacuated because the suburb is at risk being isolated.
While evacuation orders are still current, the State Emergency Service (SES) is preparing for residents to return home.
"The impact of this level of flooding isn’t as high as you'd normally expect; there is some over-floor flooding," NSW SES incident controller Barry Griffiths said.
The SES "wants residents of North Wagga Wagga back as soon as possible" so is working with council and waiting on engineering reports.
Once satisfied the embankment is in a stable condition locals will be allowed back into the area.
Longtime local Robyn Dawson was sleeping in a motel after evacuating from her home.
"We left at probably one o'clock [yesterday] and that will be it — we won't go back in until we get the all-clear," she said.
Ms Dawson last evacuated in 2012 and said she had been packed and ready to go since August.
"We'll either go back to a house full of mud, or a house full of mess," she said.
"Either way, it's not going to be pleasant."
'Shouldn't be any dramas'
In defiance of SES orders, a handful of residents have chosen to stay.
Dan Grentell is one of an estimated 10 residents who are still in North Wagga.
He said he and others chose to stay because they feel safe and want to protect their homes from possible looting.
"All of us over there are two-storey and there shouldn't be any dramas unless there's some sort of medical problem," Mr Grentell said.
"We've got plenty of food, water — we'll be fine."
Grandmother Carmel Downton was staying at a caravan park in East Wagga Wagga.
She got the call to evacuate while watching her grandson play touch football.
"The river was right up at the back of the camping tent area, and we were just off that," she said.
"So, we didn't have a choice; we had to go."
'Not going anywhere'
The federal government has recently announced a buyback scheme for homes in flood-prone areas in the Northern Rivers.
Ms Dawson and Mr Grentell both said they would reject such an offer.
Mr Grentell has lived in North Wagga since he was a child.
He said he built his home to withstand floods, so he never has to leave.
Ms Dawson said there was "no way" she would leave.
She said she accepted the floods because she loved the community.
"We are not going anywhere — no matter how many times this happens, we are not moving," Ms Dawson said.
"That's the way it is."
