Flooding remained a common problem for Wagga Wagga, with major flooding occurring in 1844, 1852, 1853, 1870, 1891, 1900, 1925, 1931, 1950, 1952 and 1956. After the 1956 floods, the City Council protected the city area on the south flood plain through construction of a levee. The levee was completed by 1962 and provided protection from 1 in 100-year floods. North Wagga Wagga was excluded from protection, and attempts were made to force residents of North Wagga Wagga to abandon their homes through rigid enforcement of planning controls. North Wagga Wagga residents resisted the attempts to remove them and a sign mysteriously appeared beneath the North Wagga Wagga welcome sign with the wording – "We Shall Not Be Moved". By the 1970s, the Council eventually acceded to residents' demands, removing planning constraints and a levee was constructed to protect the village, although at a lower standard, by 1982. In 1981, the New South Wales government forced the amalgamation of Wagga Wagga City Council with neighbouring Kyeamba Shire and Mitchell Shire to form the new City of Wagga Wagga local government area, containing 4,886 square kilometres.