All the residents have tanks and septic systems; some have wells and bores as well.

When Tallangatta was sewered in the 1950s, Wodonga in 1960 and Bellbridge in 1974, Bethanga missed the boat.

Years later, the Towong Shire, residents and state government authorities are still in discussion over how water and sewerage systems could be installed and how much it would all cost.

In the meantime, the community is dealing with persistent odours, contaminated creeks and limitations on land use.

A Towong Shire Stormwater Management Plan was released 10 years ago to address those immediate issues, while a more permanent solution was investigated.

A Towong study in 2009 revealed 34 Bethanga properties have black water-only systems, meaning they service only toilets.

Of those systems, five discharge directly into open street drains.

Two properties have failed treatment or disposal systems and 31 have septic tank access issues.

Towong Shire has vowed to support the sewering of what is described as "inner Bethanga", a cluster of 70 properties, because of the environmental issues.

Diana and Peter Schmidt, who have lived in Bethanga for 33 years, know full well that money is the issue but readily accept that residents would have to make some kind of contribution.

"Of course each person is going to have to pay something - if you're in town and your house is going to be sewered then you'll have to pay," Mrs Schmidt said.

She said what is frustrating about the issue was the length of time it was taking to make a decision.

"At the last council meeting they said they're definitely not forgetting us but it's been going on for so long," she said.

"We've had consultants, we've put money into looking at it and we thought it was on its way.

"Really, we could do with reticulated water and sewerage but I think people would be happy just to have the sewerage done."

The Schmidts' property has three large tanks to provide for household needs and a well they use to water their garden.

Not all Bethanga properties are blessed - some only have tanks and, during the drought, water was used very sparingly.

But many residents are now concerned about the future of their town and how development is stymied by the sewerage issues.

"This restricts building on a block because some aren't large enough to have those alternative sewerage systems," Mrs Schmidt said.

"It is frustrating because the town can't go ahead, if you're not allowed to build on your block you can't go ahead."

Mrs Schmidt said the lake was so close but the expense of pumping water was prohibitive.