More than $1 million that was publicly raised to support affected families in the wake of the Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy last year has become caught up in "complex" legal issues.
So complex, in fact, that it seems the money has not yet rolled over into a public fund established specifically to handle those donations.
State Recovery Adviser Craig Limkin said there were "outstanding issues" that needed to be resolved in regards to the original amount raised on crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.
"This process is legally complex and not straight forward," he said.
"We have seen recently in other states how difficult it can be for public donations to reach the people they were raised for.
"It is for this reason that the government has stepped in to support the distribution of the donations."
It follows recent news that the Hillcrest funds were yet to be distributed.
Mr Limkin said the families would not need to wait for the donations to come through to receive support, as the state government had been making sure they were provided for.
Devonport mayor Annette Rockliff said she understood the community's concern that the money hadn't yet been distributed.
"It will, and this is not negotiable," she said, firmly.
"The money was always intended for those families and that's exactly where it will go.
The money was always intended for those families and that's exactly where it will go.
- Annette Rockliff
"(The) council will continue to take direction from the state government once those funds are rolled over.
"The fund's Distribution Committee, which I am a member of, will meet and make sure those families receive their share of the initial donations received."
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She said the total amount raised now stood close to $2 million, including $1.42 million from GoFundMe.
"This means that $459,580 has been raised with donations continuing to flow in steadily from many organisations and business that want to help in some way," she said.
Cr Rockliff said the Hillcrest Community Public Fund - a joint initiative with the State Government, MyState and the Devonport council - had been created to support the Hillcrest families and school community for the long term through a secure approach.
"For many of us, the tragic events of 16th December are still firmly etched in our minds. I have people telling me now that they are still just devastated. We all will be for some time," she said.
"I am saddened to see such outrage on social media which is often sparked by misinformation.
"I'm hopeful that as the public funds start to be distributed to the families and those affected, that there will be less anger around a process that does take time but is solely about helping those who have gone through something just so unimaginable."