2015/16 Risk of Spill Announcements

10 September 2015 - Declaration of low risk of spill for the Murray System

A low risk of spill was today declared in the Murray system by the Resource Manager for northern Victoria. 

Resource Manager for northern Victoria Mark Bailey said the risk of spill in the Murray system during 2015/16 had fallen below the 10 per cent threshold for a declaration to be made.

“Based on Victoria’s share of the volume held in Lake Hume, the risk of spill is currently about 5 per cent,” Dr Bailey said. “The water held in spillable water accounts in the Murray system will now be made available to entitlement holders for use or trade”.

Dr Bailey added the risk of spill assessment did not refer to the chances of flooding in the Murray system. He reminded the public that the risk of spill relates to the availability of water in spillable water accounts and does not refer to flood risks downstream of the storages.

Trading opportunities

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 Murray system below 50 per cent. The spill risk limit allows more than 200 GL of trade. Therefore, the net annual volume of 200 GL will apply unless advised otherwise.

Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website, waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-trading/allocation-trading.

Next announcement on risk of spill

The first risk of spill assessment in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems for the 2016/17 season will be announced on July 1, 2016.

For information about the Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems, including seasonal determinations, resource availability and carryover volumes, please visit www.nvrm.net.au. The status of Victorian shares of Murray storages is available at www.mdba.gov.au/what-we-do/managing-rivers/river-murray-system/water-sharing.

10 August 2015 - No Change to Murray System Risk of Spill

There is no change to the risk of spill in the Murray system, the Resource Manager for northern Victoria announced today. 

Resource Manager for northern Victoria Mark Bailey said the risk of spill in the Murray system during 2015/16 remained above the 10 per cent threshold needed for a declaration to be made.

"Based on Victoria's share of the volume held in Lake Hume, the risk of spill is currently about 12 per cent," Dr Bailey said.

"The water held in spillable water accounts in the Murray system remains quarantined from use or trade."

Dr Bailey added the risk of spill assessment did not refer to the chances of flooding in the Murray system. He reminded the public that the risk of spill relates to the availability of water in spillable water accounts and does not refer to flood risks downstream of the storages.

Trading opportunities

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 Murray system below 50 per cent. The spill risk limit allows more than 200 GL of trade. Therefore, the net annual volume of 200 GL will apply unless advised otherwise.

Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website.

Next announcement on risk of spill

The risk of spill in the Murray system will be updated on September 10.

For information about the Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems, including seasonal determinations, resource availability and carryover volumes, please visit www.nvrm.net.au. The status of Victorian shares of Murray storages is available at https://www.mdba.gov.au/  

10 July 2015 - No Change to Murray System Risk of Spill

There is no change to the risk of spill in the Murray system, the Resource Manager for northern Victoria announced today.

Resource Manager for northern Victoria Mark Bailey said the risk of spill in the Murray system during 2015/16 remained above the 10 per cent threshold needed for a declaration to be made.

"Based on Victoria's share of the volume held in Lake Hume, the risk of spill is currently about 27 per cent," Dr Bailey said. "The water held in spillable water accounts in the Murray system remains quarantined from use or trade.

Dr Bailey added the risk of spill assessment did not refer to the chances of flooding in the Murray system. He reminded the public that the risk of spill relates to the availability of water in spillable water accounts and does not refer to flood risks downstream of the storages.

Trading opportunities


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 Murray system below 50 per cent. The current risk of spill limit allows 140 GL of net trade from New South Wales to Victoria.

Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website, waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-trading/allocation-trading .

Next announcement on risk of spill

The risk of spill in the Murray system will be updated on August 10.

For more information about the risk of spill, go to https://www.nvrm.net.au/. Information about the volumes transferred in and out of spillable water accounts and water storages levels is available on the following websites: waterregister.vic.gov.au, https://www.mdba.gov.au/ and https://www.g-mwater.com.au/.