Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry Flood Protection District
Our role at Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry
We work with Cardinia, Casey and Baw Baw Shire Councils and the local community to look after the Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry Flood Protection District drains and flood protection structures using funds collected through a special precept rate.
Melbourne Water looks after the precept drains and the carrier drains, while council looks after the council-owned drains and the community are responsible for any private drains.
History of the area
The Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry Flood Protection District was once swampland. It was covered by dense stands of vegetation and provided a natural barrier between Melbourne and West Gippsland. The area was drained in the mid-late 1800s and used for farming, and drains were cut through the land to help handle the flooding that is common in the area.
Over the past century the Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry district has
experienced many flood events
More information on the history and geography of the Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry district can be found on the Department of Primary Industries website.
What is a precept rate?
The maintenance and capital works program for the KWRLFPD is more intensive than that undertaken across other areas serviced by Melbourne Water due to the concentration of drains and the significant flood risk to the area.
Because of this, properties within the Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry Flood Protection District pay an exclusive rate that reflects the higher levels of drainage service provided in the area. They do not pay the metropolitan waterways and drainage rate.
This is known as the precept rate, and is approved by the Victorian Government’s Essential Services Commission which independently regulates the prices and service standards of businesses supplying water, sewerage and related services.
Who pays the precept rate?
Rural and residential property owners from Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry Flood Protection District (PDF, 49kb) pay the special precept rate which funds drainage and maintenance for the area.
Precept areas
The Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry Flood Protection District is approximately 60km south east of Melbourne’s central business district along the South Gippsland Highway.
It extends about 30km east to west and about 11km north to south, covering some 330 km2.
MAP: Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry Flood Protection District (PDF, 1.2mb)
Proposed changes to the precept rate
Melbourne Water is reforming the way precept rates are calculated, to achieve a fair and sustainable rate structure.
In late September we sent a letter to all ratepayers in the Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry Flood Protection District advising them of our proposed changes which would take place in July 2013, and inviting them to provide feedback.
If you would like to provide feedback, or have any questions:
| Call: | Evaluation Solutions (03) 9863 7554 |
| Online: | Contact us online |
| Write to: | Melbourne Water – Precept Pricing Feedback 334 Rossiter Rd, Koo Wee Rup VIC 3981 |
Feedback closes at midnight on Friday 14 October.
If you are a ratepayer and you did not receive a letter, please contact Evaluation Solutions on (03) 9863 7554. Evaluation Solutions is an independent company that is assisting us with our consultation.
For more information, please refer to:
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 53kb)
Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry Flood Protection District Community Newsletter (PDF, 818kb)
Maintenance services and schedules
Melbourne Water provides drainage and flood protection services to the area by maintaining local and main carrier drains, culverts, floodgate structures, occupational bridges, fences and flood warning systems in the area.
If you have any maintenance or drainage issues in the Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry Flood Protection District area, please contact:
Andrew Saunders
Phone: 8770 8784 OR 0408 033 984
Contact us online
What's the difference between a precept drain and a carrier drain?
A precept drain is a drain that originates within the flood protection district and serves to drain the local area.
A carrier drain originates from outside the precept area and carries water through precept area as well as receiving water from the precept drains.
Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry Flood Protection District Advisory Committee
The Koo Wee Rup Committee is a representative, ratepayer-based forum made up of members of the Koo Wee Rup - Longwarry Flood Protection district to Melbourne Water.
The Committee plays an important role in making recommendations to Melbourne Water on a range of matters relevant to ratepayers and residents living in the area.
The Committee provides advice to Melbourne Water on maintenance and works priorities within the Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry Flood Protection District so that the special precept rates collected in the district (the total of which will be based on the level of service required as identified by the Committee) may be spent efficiently and equitably.
The committee is made up of nine precept rate paying members of the community, as well as a representative from each of the three councils (Shire of Pakenham, Shire of Cranbourne, Shire of Baw Baw).
Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry Flood Protection District Committee Constitution (PDF, 53kb)
Committee vacancies are advertised in the local newspaper, on this website and via direct mail to ratepayers and residents.
Endangered species in the area
The Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry area is home to some of the state’s threatened and endangered species. They are the Southern Brown Bandicoot, the Growling Grass Frog, and the Australian Grayling.
In 2010 Melbourne Water commissioned a report into these endangered populations in the Koo Wee Rup – Longwarry area which recommended strategies for completing works and maintenance without threatening the species’ habitat.
Melbourne Water is extremely cautious when undertaking works in the KWRLFPD area so as not to disturb the habitats of these endangered species. This can sometimes mean that works can not happen as quickly as we or the community may like.
We ask for your patience and understanding as we must ensure that the future survival of these species is our first priority.