Barriers on the drive into Noreuil Park were removed on Monday after swollen Murray River waters receded.

River Deck Cafe operator Alex Smit said although the water had drained away the Albury Council had told his team “to cool our jets”.

Fears of major rain on Thursday and Friday have the council concerned water may rise again and releases from Lake Hume may increase.

“I’ve been told the next few days there still may be quite a lot of rain which may mean more releases or higher releases.” Mr Smit said.

“The following three weeks, after this week, are looking good on the meteorological side of things so hopefully we will start progressively moving back.

“By the end of October we would certainly hope to be back there, but it just depends on rain and the release strategy.”

Mr Smit said from the time the council approved the business returning it would take four days to a week to prepare for the resumption of service.

Stock would need be replenished and infrastructure, such as sewer pumps, restarted.

The River Deck Cafe has been closed since September 6 with a temporary outlet established in the Albury Club on September 15.

“We’ve had really good patronage and a good reception,” Mr Smit said of the reaction to the pop-up outlet.

“A lot of our regular customers are coming down and a lot of people are coming in who have never seen the Albury Club.”

Mr Smit declined to say how much turnover the cafe had lost through being forced to shut, but noted school holidays were usually a peak period.

Up to 20 tourists are telephoning Mr Smit each day as they travel the Hume Highway, expecting to be able to book into the cafe at the riverside. 

Mr Smit said he had pondered seeking compensation from water manager, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, which has been accused of mismanagement over Lake Hume’s level.

“I would be open to having a conversation but I don’t know what our chances are,” Mr Smit said.

“It would be lovely to get compensation but I don’t think it’s as simple as everyone thinks it is.”

The Albury Council has also re-opened roads leading to Mungabareena Reserve and Wonga Wetlands, but it has warned a forecast of 60 to 120 millimetres of rain may force them to be shut again.