Opening seasonal determinations and risk of spill update for 2023/24

Opening seasonal determinations and risk of spill update for 2023/24

The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today announced the first 2023/24 seasonal determinations, an updated outlook for 2023/24 water availability, and an updated assessment of the risk of spill in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems.

The Murray system starts 2023/24 with a seasonal determination of 80 per cent of high-reliability water shares (HRWS). The Goulburn and Loddon systems begin with 100 per cent HRWS.

The Campaspe system starts 2023/24 with 100 per cent HRWS and 46 per cent of low-reliability water shares (LRWS). The Broken system opens with 49 per cent HRWS and the Bullarook system starts with 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent LRWS.

Resource Manager Andrew Shields said the opening seasonal determination in Goulburn system was the highest since the late 1990s.

“The reserves established last season have enabled the Goulburn system to start with its highest seasonal determination in over 25 years,” said Mr Shields. “The opening seasonal determination in the Campaspe system is the highest since 2011/12.”

Mr Shields urged Murray and Goulburn system customers to monitor the effect of continued releases from Lake Hume and Lake Eildon for airspace management. “The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is managing the rate of filling at Lake Hume and Goulburn-Murray Water is doing the same at Lake Eildon. Entitlements holders in the Murray and Goulburn systems should note that deductions from spillable water accounts will occur when the volumes released are confirmed.

“The situation at Lake Hume and Lake Eildon means the risk of spill in the Murray and Goulburn systems is 100 per cent,” Mr Shields said. “The risk of spill from Lake Eppalock in the Campaspe system is also approaching 100 per cent.”

Mr Shields said the risk of spill assessment did not describe the chances of flooding this season. “The risk of spill is a water accounting assessment. It does not refer to flood risks downstream of the storages.”

The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Monday, July 3 are:

Trading Opportunities

The Barmah Choke trade opportunity was released on Saturday July 1. Announcements on other inter‑valley trade opportunities are scheduled for Tuesday July 4. More information about trade opening times and trade limits is available at www.waterregister.vic.gov.au/about/news/417-important-information-july-2023-trade-opening

Allocation trade from New South Wales to Victoria is limited to the lesser of a net annual volume of 200 GL or a volume that keeps the risk of spill in the Victoria’s share of the both Hume and Dartmouth reservoirs below 50 per cent. As Victoria’s share of Hume and Dartmouth is close to full, trade from New South Wales to Victoria is not possible. The volume available for trade is updated with each risk of spill announcement. 

Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements

• The risk of spill in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be updated on Monday July 10, 2023.
• The next 2023/24 seasonal determination announcement will be released on Monday July 17, 2023 and will include an updated outlook.