Victorian allocations increased after a dry fortnight

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

Further Information

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW), Resource Manager for northern Victorian water systems, today announced increased seasonal allocations for the Murray, Goulburn, and Loddon water systems.

The Murray system allocation has increased by 3% to be 97% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS).
The Goulburn and Loddon system allocations are both 70% HRWS, an increase of 3% HRWS.

The seasonal allocations for the Broken, Campaspe and Bullarook systems remained unchanged. The allocation in the Broken and Campaspe systems is 100% HRWS, and the Bullarook system allocation is 100% HRWS plus 100% of low-reliability water shares.

“There has been very little rain following the flooding rains early in September”, said Graeme Hannan, G-MW’s Resource Manager. “Inflows to the upper storages have matched our estimates for dry conditions and these inflows were used to maximise the allocations announced on 15 September.  There has been very little demand for irrigation water to date and Waranga Basin and Lake Victoria are full, therefore the flow from tributaries downstream of the major storages are not presently contributing to increases in allocations.  Follow up rain is needed to provide for large allocation increases in the Goulburn system”.

Customers participating in the water trading market are reminded that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority has relaxed the rule controlling allocation trade from upstream of the Barmah Choke to downstream users. The ability to trade across the Barmah Choke will be regularly reviewed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the relaxation may be lifted at any time during the season.