Low-reliability water share seasonal determination for the Murray system
The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today updated the seasonal determinations for 2022/23 water availability.
The Murray system increases from 100 per cent of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) to 100 per cent HWRS and 12 per cent of low-reliability water shares (LRWS). The Broken system increases from 100 per cent HRWS and 48 per cent LRWS to 100 per cent HRWS and 69 per cent LRWS.
The Goulburn, Loddon and Campaspe system seasonal determinations remain at 100 per cent HWRS. The Bullarook system seasonal determination stays at 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent LRWS.
Resource Manager Mark Bailey said rainfall continued to improve resources in all systems.
“All major storages across northern Victoria are nearing capacity as the rain continues,” Dr Bailey said. “Most of the additional stored volume has increased reserves for the 2023-24 water year.
“The storage control releases made from Lake Hume during August contributed to the low-reliability water shares allocation announced today for the Murray system.
“The volume of Victorian resource released in August from Lake Hume was greater than the balance of Murray spillable water accounts. This means 100 per cent of the allocation held in these accounts will be deducted with this update,” Dr Bailey said.
“Goulburn-Murray Water continues to release water to slow the rate of rise at Lake Eildon,” Dr Bailey said. “About 31 gigalitres will be deducted from Goulburn spillable water accounts today. That’s about 8 per cent of the current volumes in those accounts.
“The deductions mean the additional volume needed for a Goulburn LRWS allocation is about 380 GL.
“Releases to manage Lake Hume and Lake Eildon level will continue for some time, and Murray and Goulburn system entitlement holders can expect further deductions from spillable water accounts this year.”
Dr Bailey said further rainfall was likely, with longer term predictions favouring wetter conditions following confirmation of negative Indian Ocean Dipole and La Niña events. “The Bureau of Meteorology suggests above-average rainfall will continue through to December.”
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Thursday, September 15 are:
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Thursday 15 September are:
| Murray |
100% |
12% |
| Broken |
100% |
69% |
| Goulburn |
100% |
0% |
| Campaspe |
100% |
0% |
| Loddon |
100% |
0% |
| Bullarook |
100% |
100% |
Trading Opportunities
Allocation trade from New South Wales to Victoria is not currently possible because Victoria’s shares of Lake Hume and Dartmouth Reservoir are full. The opportunity for allocation trade is updated with each risk of spill announcement. Customers can learn more about trade opportunities on the Victorian Water Register website, waterregister.vic.gov.au/about/news/267-trial-of-improved-trade-adjustment-methods.
A new trade rule for trade from the Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe and Loddon systems to the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia came into effect on July 1, 2022. Further trade opportunities will be announced in mid-October and mid-December based on seasonal conditions. From December, net trade will be capped.
The Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems can trade from the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia while the total volume owed to the Murray system is greater than zero.
Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website, waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-trading/allocation-trading.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has announced that trading of water allocations from above the Barmah Choke to downstream of the Choke is restricted to protect the delivery of downstream water entitlements. Customers can monitor trading opportunities across the Barmah Choke on the MDBA website www.mdba.gov.au/managing-water/water-markets-trade/interstate-water-trade/barmah-choke-trade-balance.
Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements
- The risk of spill in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be updated on Monday October 10, 2022.
- The next 2022/23 seasonal determination announcement will be released on Monday October 17, 2022.