Allocations Remain at 0% Across Northern Victoria

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

Further Information

All of the regulated water systems in northern Victoria remained at 0% allocation today as Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) released its latest allocation announcement.

"The shortfalls to meeting our operating requirements are reducing, although inflow rates have slowed with the lack of consistent rain since our 15 August announcement," said G-MW Managing Director David Stewart.

Mr Stewart noted that the shortfalls to irrigation allocations in the Murray and Goulburn systems have reduced to 31 gigalitres (GL) and 29 GL respectively. "The two larger systems often receive some useful inflow even under conditions such as those currently occurring in our catchments," said Mr Stewart. "However, inflows in the smaller Broken, Campaspe, Loddon and Bullarook Creek systems tend to drop away quickly without good rains."

G-MW has secured qualified essential needs and carryover in each of its regulated water systems. Delivery of domestic and stock water and some carryover is available in the Murray and Goulburn systems throughout the year. However, significant inflows are needed for the Broken, Campaspe, Loddon and Bullarook Creek systems to resume normal system operations.

Access to Carryover

"G-MW will be working very hard to deliver carryover water where this can be done without incurring excessively high water losses," said Mr Stewart. "Not all channels will be operating all of the time, and those that are, will be operating at lower levels than usual. This means that it will not be possible to meet every order on demand."

Customer access to carryover water will be dependent on timing, location and the volume ordered. Orders in the channel systems may have to be grouped to maximise the water available and to minimise operating losses. Access to carryover delivery will improve as the resource position improves.

River diversion customers in the regulated Murray and Goulburn systems can place orders for delivery of carryover at any time. Limited access to carryover is available to customers in the pumped districts of the Murray system in accordance with the operating schedules prepared by the water corporations. Customers in the other river delivery systems need to discuss their delivery requirements with their Diversion Inspector.

Seasonal allocation outlooks were not updated with this allocation announcement and will next be issued on 15 September 2008. The current inflow trend across all systems is ‘dry', with significant rainfall and inflows needed to improve the outlook for the rest of the season.

Qualification of Rights

The Minister for Water has qualified rights to water to allow supplies for essential needs under the extreme conditions currently affecting northern Victorian water systems. Further details of the qualifications are available from G-MW's website, newsletters and advertisements in local media.