BANORA Point residents have slammed Tweed Shire Council's maintenance of the Banora Point Western Drainage Scheme, which they say is built up with silt, debris and weed.

Katrina Cornell, who moved to the area two years ago, said the state of the drain system was "the worst she had ever seen”, with waterways clouded with algal bloom and blocked up.

Ms Cornell said the system, which runs from south of Club Banora, to west of Flame Tree Park Estate, had been particularly bad since June's east coast low. "It's so weeded and silted up, that filtration is a significant problem,” Ms Cornell said.

"Water birds are standing on the silt surface just below the waterline.”

Ms Cornell said she was fearful of residents' homes if more heavy rain arrived.

"These systems are vital in preventing flooding issues in our suburban district,” Ms Cornell said.

"Anything that blocks up in the canals backs up onto the street. A neighbour's toilet was rising, and water has come out of the canal and right up to the road as far as letterboxes.

"There's going to end up with loads of damage to houses.”

Ms Cornell said she believed the council's approach to maintaining the drainage scheme was failing.

Banora Point and District Residents Association secretary Pat Tate said the drainage system was an ongoing problem.

"There's always a build-up of weeds in the drainage system and whatever they do it's only a short-term resolution,” Ms Tate said.

Ms Tate said the council informed the association of a trial floating system near Twin Towns Juniors Club last November.

"We've asked council to keep us informed of how the new floating system trial is going but we've been kept in the dark,” Ms Tate said.

But a council spokesperson said the presence of weed was largely an "aesthetic concern”, which had worsened this year due to a lack of large storm events.

"Residential development in Banora Point has all been constructed on fill to contemporary standards.

"There should not be concerns about increased flood risk,” the spokesperson said. "Unfortunately, council's maintenance budget can only extend to noxious weed management and ensuring the proper operation of the system in storm events.”

Maintenance works are scheduled for later this month.