Sussex Inlet resident and Deputy Mayor Patricia White said a flood study from council was "well overdue".

"We're currently doing a flood study and that has been held up, residents are starting to chase council," Cr White said.

"There has been a lot of changes since the last study was done, a lot of development and new houses."

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Some of causes of flooding around St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet are not easy to solve.

The tide plays a large role in water being able to escape the basin and particularly in Sussex Inlet the stormwater system creates problems.

"The stormwater drains that lead into the river back up so the water comes out into the streets, there's nowhere else for it to go," Cr White said.

"Council is aware of this and I've had lots of discussions with the engineers, but how to you solve the problem?

"When we have a massive storm like we did over the last few days the system just cannot cope."

A study is also underway looking at the sand structure, there are concerns about ships in the early 1900s throwing ballasts overboard which could be holding down extra sand.

A council report from 2013, the St Georges Basin Revised Estuary Management Plan, recommended a number of measures including levees and channel improvements, development controls, flood proofing and improved flood warnings and community awareness.

The effects of climate change were not considered during the last flood study, conducted in 2006.

"Climate change is expected to increase sea levels and rainfall intensities in flood producing storm events in NSW, both of which can heighten flooding intensity," the 2013 report said.

"Management of future flooding risks should consider the level of flood risk for existing development, as well as the likely changes to flood risks associated with future climate change (e.g. increased intensity of rainfall events and sea level rise).

"Develop a planning framework and a system of riparian buffers to guide future development in areas that will be affected by lake level rise."

The report suggests a number of adaption options to combat sea and lake level rise.

It included using defences such as seawalls or filling of low lying areas, relocating foreshore structures and pathways, abandoning the foreshore assets and to make allowance for environmental adjustment, such as retreat of saltmarsh areas.