Fifty per cent of businesses inundated when Lismore was flooded a month ago have now reopened and community spirits are lifting as each additional store welcomes customers once again.
The worst floods to hit northern NSW in 40 years claimed six lives and impacted countless more in late March and early April with homes, shops and roads all going under.
Six months' worth of waste was generated in under a fortnight in Lismore in the wake of Cyclone Debbie.
Across the region, the damage bill ran into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
"Early on it was quite distressing to hear about people feeling like they just couldn't reopen, they just couldn't get through the clean-up phase," Lismore mayor Isaac Smith told AAP on Friday.
"It was quite disheartening to see just a shop full of wet, soggy clothing or goods."
The clean-up task following the "once-in-a-lifetime" deluge was huge, Mr Smith said, but it's moved fast.
More than half of Lismore businesses have now reopened and just three are unlikely to return to the CBD, the mayor said.
"Early on we were worried those numbers would be much higher."
The floods also impacted roads in the region and repairing them is expected to cost upwards of $40 million.
One business hit hard was First Steps Early Learning Centre on the bank of the Wilsons River which overflowed and filled rooms to shoulder height.
"The damage was extensive - we lost all resources and equipment," First Steps supervisor Carrie Hofer told AAP on Friday.
The child care centre on Saturday will reopen its doors to parents and children for the first time since floors, walls and furniture were destroyed.
"We are looking forward to seeing their smiling faces when they come through and see their old home transformed into a completely new centre," Ms Hofer said.
The rebuilding wasn't easy but donations to the centre poured in and people turned up to help as soon as they could.
"Mums and dads and families were coming in within the first day that we could reach the centre to offer help," Ms Hofer said.
"It's inspiring to see that Lismore is being returned to its former self slowly."
Lismore's mayor insists the local community is stronger than ever following the disaster.
"There is a sentiment in town that Lismore will not only recover but be better than it ever was before," Mr Smith said.
