The swollen Mataura River rips through the town on Wednesday. PHOTOS: STEPHEN JAQUIERY : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

The Mataura River flows across farmland near Gore. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

The Mataura River’s water laps about road-working machinery on Wednesday. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

The Mataura River rises to cover parts of Gore on Wednesday. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

A utility vehicle sits in front of a flooded house, where it was left as the water rose. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

Sheds, cars and heavy machinery are swamped by the Mataura River on Wednesday. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

The roofs of parked cars peek above the floodwater in Gore on Wednesday. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

Muddy brown floodwater on Wednesday surrounds a farm that would otherwise be set in a sea of green. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

State Highway 94 towards Milford Sound was damaged in many places during the week. PHOTO: SUPPLIED : Some properties too flooded for residents to return : Some properties too flooded for residents to return

Sandbags sit dry after the floodwater receded on Thursday. : Some properties too flooded for residents to return : Some properties too flooded for residents to return