At the height of the emergency, about 8000 people were evacuated from Central and North Wagga due to fears that the river height could top the levee and inundate the heart of the city.

Robyn Dawson, who is now North Wagga Residents Association president, said some people left items like cars behind due to a flood evacuation in 2010 that turned out to be a false alarm.

"On the afternoon of Sunday, March 4 we got an emergency meeting call and were told we had four hours to get out," she said.

"The waters came in on Monday.

"We got emergency accommodation in a city motel and we had just gotten in when we were told to evacuate again; we were evacuated twice in 24 hours."

It was a whole week before residents were allowed back.

"There was mud and mud and more mud; and it stunk," Ms Dawson said.

"There was a terrible stench and if you get a few wet days you can still smell it."

North Wagga resident Del Blowes said a lot of damage had been caused by the water being trapped in the area for multiple days.

"Because we couldn't get back in and get the water out, all our floors had to be replaced," she said.

Mr Blowes said community spirit and volunteers helped people rebuild their lives.

"We worked together then just as we work together now," she said.

The lines drawn on buildings and sheds to record the high water mark might have faded, but the campaign still rolls on to extend a heightened flood levee to North Wagga.

The flood levee is currently being built up around central Wagga.

"We shouldn't have to still be fighting for the levee," Mrs Blowes said.

On the seventh anniversary of the disaster, there are still vacant houses and the Wagga and Bidgee District Pony Club is only now getting back to its pre-flood strength.

Club president Sandra Dennis said they were still using their annual fundraising gymkhana, which is due to take place next month, to pay for replacement equipment.

"The flood just lifted up the clubhouse and spread it in all directions," she said.

"It had seen more than one flood but 2012 just ended it and the only thing left was the concrete with the toilets."

Mrs Miller said the club's 30 members at the time, mainly aged from five to 16 years, were devastated to see the flood's aftermath.

Members were kept from returning to the club for months while the site was tested for potential asbestos contamination. 

Club senior instructor Betty Miller said the club had invested tens of thousands of dollars rebuilding with the help of the community, council and government grants.

"We haven't totally gotten everything back," she said.