Farmers in Victoria's flood-ravaged north-west say they could be off their farms for up to a year, with houses at Benjeroop, Murrabit and Kerang East still under water.
The farming communities believe they were sacrificed to save Swan Hill from flooding and say they have been abandoned by the State Government.
The deep and putrid waters of the inland sea between Kerang and Swan Hill have not receded, leaving lives in limbo.
"We're living in a caravan with my two boys, $260 a week for a piece of dirt," Murrabit resident Shane Dwyer said
Today the farmers were heading to Kerang for a meeting with authorities, where they hoped to win approval to block levees.
At the meeting farmers were warned not to get too emotional, but it is not easy for Steve Hawkins whose farm has been under for three weeks.
"Look me in the eyes and tell me you'd like to view it first hand," he said.
Farmers were asked to write down ways authorities can fix this situation.
The flood has been dragging on for a month. But Premier Ted Baillieu has yet to visit affected areas and farmers say they feel totally abandoned.
Locals say the bureaucrats have until the end of the weekend to do something positive for them or
any goodwill that is there will be gone
.