Water rose 60cm up the wall of Wollongong Window World late on Thursday night.

Owner Paul Atkins believes a neighbouring creek contributed to the amount of water that came in to his business because the waterway had become clogged with native vegetation and weeds. The clogged side of the creek runs through privately owned land.

Mr Atkins said he had seen volunteers planting reeds in the creek within the past 12 months, and suggested this contributed to the clogging.

‘‘My father-in-law owns the building and he said it’s never come over the concrete in 35 years - never, no matter how much rain we had,’’ Mr Atkins said.

‘‘There’s so much bush been planted [in the creek], the water wouldn’t wash away.’’

A neighbouring business, Injury and Occupational Health, was also heavily affected by the floodwaters.

Its director, Linda Hogg, told the Mercury she had repeatedly complained to the council and offered to pay the cost of clearing the vegetation, but been told she could be fined if she interfered with it.

A spokesman for Wollongong City Council said the council had cleared the creek of debris and weeds south of Swan St but had not touched the northern side because it was on privately owned land.

The spokesman said the creek was a tidal creek.

‘‘The water level is, at times, higher than the roadway. There also was a high tide yesterday evening,’’ he said yesterday.

The Mercury understands the land on the northern side is owned by a consortium of about 15 businesses.