Alongside Traditional Owners, residents, local councils, and other authorities, Melbourne Water is the caretaker of waterway and catchment health and manages the unique drainage network that protects the area from flooding.

Timeline

The Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation are the traditional custodians of the land on which the Koo Wee Rup–Longwarry Flood Protection District is now located.
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    Prior to European settlement

    The area was part of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp (or Great Swamp), an extensive wetlands ecosystem encompassing more than 40,000 hectares of dense swamp from Tooradin to Bunyip.
    The swamp was fed by a 2,208 square kilometre catchment that included the three major drainage basins of Cardinia Creek, Bunyip River and Lang Lang River catchments.
    Prior to European settlement, the Yallock Creek formed the only permanent outlet from the swamp into Western Port Bay.

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    Late 1800s

    Victoria's expanding economy relied heavily on developing additional land for farming. In the Koo Wee Rup area this meant that drains were cut to help flooding and drainage and as a result the Koo Wee Rup Swamp was gradually changed into a farming area.
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    Early 1900s

    The Lower Koo Wee Rup Flood Protection District was proclaimed in 1917 and work commenced.

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    1912

    The whole reclaimed swampland came under the control of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission.

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    1924

    The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works became the Melbourne metropolitan drainage authority.

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    1930s and 1940s

    After several significant floods in the region, a drainage improvement scheme was implemented.

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    1950s

    Due to urban expansion, the Koo Wee Rup region became an area of market gardens and potatoes replaced dairy farms as the dominant land use. An irrigation system was developed to provide for this expansion.

    Construction of the Yallock Outfall Drain commenced. The outfall split the flow of the Bunyip Main Drain at Cora Lynn. This decreased the flows in the Bunyip Main Drain reducing the frequency of overtopping the drain levees and provided flood mitigation benefits to the Koo Wee Rup township.

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    1970

    The recently formed Dandenong Valley Authority extended their jurisdiction to include the Koo Wee Rup-Longwarry Flood Protection District. The Longwarry Drainage Board and the Koo Wee Rup Flood Protection Board also had responsibilities in the area.

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    1991

    The Dandenong Valley and Westernport Authority (formerly Dandenong Valley Authority) was merged with the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works to form Melbourne Water.

    Melbourne Water took over management of the District.

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    From 1996 to current

    The Koo Wee Rup–Longwarry Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee for the District was in full swing and continues to meet to this day.

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    2013

    One precept rate applied to all properties in the District.