IT HAS been a long, tough year for the people of Yenda.
Almost 12 months to the day since 1.2 metres of water flooded through the town, memories of the ordeal are still fresh in people's minds.
Many are still out of their homes, waiting for repairs to be completed.
Others are locked in negotiations with insurers, some have been left without insurance and some will never return.
Throughout it all, the Yenda community spirit remained strong and for the people whose homes were unaffected and for the ones who have been able to move back, the town is returning to what it once was.
Yenda Progress Association president Kay Pellizzer said the question on everyone's mind was will it happen again?
The SES was highly criticised during last year's disaster after residents were forced to evacuate their homes - some with as few as 20 minutes to pack though the water did not creep into the town until the next day.
SES Murrumbidgee Region Controller James McTavish said a significant amount of work had been undertaken over the past 12 months to ensure it did not happen again.
The SES has conducted a number of reviews and is in the process of compiling information about Mirrool Creek and Main Drain J which was simply not available last year.
Mr McTavish said the importance of information could never be overlooked and to that regard, communication and transparency with communities had become a priority.
"We have tried to be as open and transparent as we can and people appreciate that," Mr McTavish said.
"In the event of another flood, we are very much committed to making sure the damage is less and life is preserved."
The SES is working closely with Griffith City Council to ensure appropriate flood mitigation plans are in place.
Mayor John Dal Broi said he could understand why people were frustrated.
"Prior to me being elected six months ago, nothing had been done with the excuse that we needed studies to be completed," Cr Dal Broi said.
"All these studies have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and we have not moved one clod of dirt to alleviate the problem."
Council is currently in negotiations with Murrumbidgee Irrigation over control of the East Mirrool Regulator (EMR), which has been blamed for the significant flooding through Yenda.
Cr Dal Broi said he was waiting on confirmation from MI that during an emergency situation, the company would hand control of the EMR over the SES.
"Never did I think that I would run into such bureaucratic nonsense and feeble excuses as to why the EMR could not be restored to its original function," he said.
"The people of Yenda are biting their fingernails - March is the wettest month."
Cr Dal Broi said $300,000 would be spent to alleviate drainage problems in Yenda and Yoogali and with tenders currently out, construction to install culverts and widen drains could begin within three weeks.
Shortly after the disaster, the Yenda Flood Victims Association was formed with farmer Paul Rossetto at its head.
Mr Rossetto had planned to launch a class action against MI to claim compensation for flood damage - a project which has since been "put on the backburner".
Since he was appointed to council, Mr Rossetto said the civil suit would be a conflict of interest.
