SHELL-SHOCKED residents have begun a massive recovery effort after the weekend's heavy rainfall caused flooding and forced evacuations at Creswick, Clunes and Allendale.
Hepburn Shire mayor Janine Booth said the infrastructure damage bill would amount to millions, while residents had been left traumatised by the flooding of their homes and the loss of their possessions.
"We're working through the personal issues people have of accommodation, clothing and that sort of thing," she said.
"This flooding has had a very significant impact on our community and the council is working with all local emergency and recovery services to help those who have been forced out of their homes, or who have experienced property damage."
At least 132 homes were affected by the flooding of the Creswick Creek following heavy rainfalls that began late on Friday evening.
"The council established a relief centre at the Creswick Town Hall on Saturday where 96 people were registered for immediate assistance throughout the day," Cr Booth said.
"Initial impact assessments indicate 93 homes were affected in Creswick, 35 in Clunes and four in Allendale.
"A number of those homes are no longer habitable in the short-term, so we can see that these floods will continue to affect community members for some time to come.
"We also know that a number of businesses have been badly affected by both the floods and the loss of power across much of the district throughout Sunday.
"Community groups have also suffered losses and damages caused by inundation of sporting grounds and other facilities."
The state government is making immediate grants available for those in need of urgent assistance for food, clothing, short-term emergency accommodation and one-off transport grants.
A maximum of $1067 per household is available through these grants. Other grants are available to assist with repairs to homes and these will be made following a case-by-case assessment conducted with the Department of Human Services.
Creswick was one of the hardest hit towns with a section of the main street completely underwater and many homes and businesses damaged. Fire trucks, four-wheel-drives and flood boats were used to rescue those stranded.
Creswick's Vera Brown and Theresa West said they could not believe how fast Saturday's storm took hold.
The pair live in public housing units and took refuge at the Creswick Town Hall relief centre.
Clunes CFA captain Jim Kerin said in Clunes the water began to rise rapidly about 10am on Saturday, breaking the bank of Tullaroop Creek and coming up Fraser Street into the caravan park.
"Certainly there was significant water damage and mud and rubbish has been washed through the area as the creek was flowing incredibly fast," he said.
"I believe some people are now now back into their residences and collecting items and things."
Clunes Caravan Park owner Les Eastcott said his two best cabins were moved off their foundations by the floodwaters."One minute it wasn't too bad and 20 minutes later it was inundated," he said.
"A couple of permanent residents were flooded two to three feet into their vans."
He said while most people had gone out of their way to help others, the behaviour of a small minority had been disappointing.
"There were people standing around taking photographs of people as they were wading around trying to save their belongings," he said.
"We had looters who tried to steal our gas bottles."
Hepburn SES acting deputy controller Costa Chrysopoulous said said the unit attended more than 40 jobs.
At Newlyn four houses had to be sandbagged there were trees over the road all around the shire.
A power outage from 2pm Saturday until 2pm Sunday threw businesses in Daylesford into chaos with most shops unable to open on Sunday and large quantities of perishables lost.
The council has organised for large skips to be bought into Creswick and Clunes to help residents clean up properties damaged by the floodwaters.
Transfer stations will be open across the shire for free this week for anyone who needs to get rid of rubbish.
Damage assessments will continue over the next few days.
Anyone needing assistance should contact council's customer service offices on 5345 8399.
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