15 September Brings First Allocations to Murray & Goulburn Systems

Announcement Date: 15 Sep 2008
Next Announcement Due: 1 Oct 2008

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

  High Reliability Water Share Change to High Reliability Water Share Comments
Murray 6% +6% -
Broken 0% % -
Goulburn 4% +4% -
Campaspe 0% % -
Loddon 0% % -
Bullarook Creek 0% % -

Further Information

 

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) today announced the first seasonal allocations for the Murray and Goulburn systems. Customers in the Murray system will receive an allocation of 6% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS). The Goulburn system has an allocation of 4% HRWS. The allocations for all other water systems in northern Victoria remain at zero.

Isolated rainfall events in the last two weeks have maintained inflows, which are low for this time of year. The inflows have been sufficient to meet the system operating requirements and these allocations. "The decision to adopt reduced volumes for operating requirements in both systems also contributed enormously," said Ian Moorhouse, G-MW Acting Managing Director. "We could still be at zero in both systems if the operating requirements had not been reduced with the agreement of customers and our colleagues in Sunraysia."

Supply in the Murray and Goulburn Systems

"The announcement of allocations in the Murray and Goulburn systems should not be taken as a return to business as usual," said Mr Moorhouse. "The delivery systems will still need to be operated very carefully to minimise operating losses. We expect some channels will remain below normal operating levels for much of the year. This could mean that water orders may be grouped to maximise water availability. Our planners will be looking at the timing, location and volume of orders for allocation and carryover delivery."

Supply in the Other Northern Victorian Systems

Allocations remain at zero in the Broken, Campaspe, Loddon and Bullarook systems. "The inflows to the smaller systems have remained very poor," said Mr Moorhouse. "Our priority is to maintain supply of qualified essential needs in each system through the year. However, we will try to deliver carryover wherever this is possible. I strongly urge customers in these systems to discuss their delivery requirements with their Diversion Inspector."

Outlooks for the Murray and Goulburn Systems

The seasonal allocation outlooks for the Murray and Goulburn systems are presented below. The outlooks are based on current inflow conditions and monthly inflow records from seasons with low inflows during spring.

The following terminology is used in the tables:

            ‘Wet'               - Inflow volumes that have 1 chance in 10 of being exceeded

            ‘Average'         - Inflow volumes that have 5 chances in 10 of being exceeded

            ‘Dry'                - Inflow volumes that have 9 chances in 10 of being exceeded

Murray System (%HRWS at Date Shown)

Inflow Conditions

15 Oct 2008

15 Dec 2008

15 Feb 2009

Wet

46%

75%

98%

Average

29%

48%

57%

Dry

8%

12%

20%

 

Goulburn System (%HRWS at Date Shown)

Inflow Conditions

15 Oct 2008

15 Dec 2008

15 Feb 2009

Wet

36%

88%

100%

Average

20%

45%

53%

Dry

8%

17%

23%

 

A repeat of 2007/08 inflow conditions is expected to produce a 37% HRWS allocation in the Murray system and a 34% HRWS allocation in the Goulburn system.

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 (http://www.g-mwater.com.au/), newsletters and advertisements in local media.