The Insurance Council of Australia estimates the total amount of the claims from flood-affected residents in north-east Victoria at $20 million.

The 5,000 insurance claims are merely for private properties. The figure does not include damage to roads, bridges, or other council property. The number of claims is expected to rise as flooding continues.

The State Emergency Service (SES) disclosed, though, that floods are beginning to ease but their crews will remain on flood watch until October. Meanwhile, the Army is done sandbagging homes in Echuca where flood waters are expected to peak on Wednesday.

Minor flood warnings remain for all rivers across the Goulburn Murray region.

The overflowing Murray river continues to put 90 percent of the Barmah National Park, in northern Victoria, under water. Recent rains has filled dry wetlands and creeks. The floods move slowly through the forest.

According to Parks Victoria's Andrew McDougall, “It is actually quite unique at the moment, the forest is full of ducks and water birds... The sound of the frogs is quite amazing, it's almost deafening in places. The frogs have come to life throughout the whole forest and everything will green up.”

The Victorian Government has been made relief funds available for people affected by the floods. Residents who evacuated their homes and need basic financial help are eligible for grants of about $1,000.

Larger grants of about $26,000 are available for residents whose homes have been structurally damaged. SES operations manager in Wangaratta, Alan Barnard, said, “there's certainly going to be a significant number of people who are going to be able to take up those grants.