Wild weather continues across NSW south coast; 300 evacuated from St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet

 26 Aug 2015,

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Emergency services have evacuated 300 people because of flooding at Sussex Inlet and St Georges Basin on the NSW south coast. (ABC News: James Glenday)

Continuing heavy rain has forced the evacuation of more than 300 people from their homes in St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet on the New South Wales south coast.

The State Emergency Service (SES) said there have been more than 1,300 calls for help and 57 flood rescues due to the severe weather.

Homes and buildings have been damaged, schools closed and there were fears the Jerrara Dam would fail, west of Kiama.

SES spokesman Phil Campbell said people have had to take refuge at the bowling club in Sussex Inlet or at the country club in Sanctuary Point.

"We've now had around 1,300 calls for emergency assistance, that's state wide since this Sydney weather began a little over 24 hours ago, 57 flood rescues now," he said.

"We are pleased to see that the number of flood rescues has been declining."

Photo: Roads are impassable and many residents have had to leave their homes as floods affect Sussex Inlet and St Georges Basin. (ABC News: John Gunn)

Mia Hill and her two children were rescued by the SES after their Sanctuary Point home was threatened by the flood waters.

Ms Hill said she made the call early to get out.

"It's completely engulfed our house. We're high rise, but we're flooded in," she said.

"The weather was meant to stay here all night and I just didn't want to take the risk. The deeper it gets the more dangerous it gets, so we had to get out."

Sussex Inlet resident Matthew Donnelly lives near the caravan park and said the rain has not stopped.

"[It's been] constant heavy southerly rain, it's been coming in in sheets. I think we've had 10 minutes where it's stopped," he said.

"I woke up and it was pouring down, so it hasn't stopped."

Photo: Parts of Lake Conjola, in southern New South Wales, have been flooded. (Supplied image: Russell Neville)

The SES said it could be another 24 to 48 hours until residents are allowed to return home.

Mr Campbell said there will still be heavy rain throughout today.

"We are expecting a second high tide peak at around 5:00pm this evening but until that peak goes down and rain eases we won't be able to let those people to return to their homes," he said.

Up to 360 millimetres of rain fell in the 30 hours up to 6:00pm on Tuesday in the St Georges Basin.