High-Reliability Water Share Allocations Now at 100% in All Systems

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

Further Information

The Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems today updated the seasonal allocations for 2011/12.

The Murray system seasonal allocation is 100% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS), an improvement of 5% HRWS. The seasonal allocation in the Broken system is 100% HRWS and 40% of low-reliability water shares (LRWS), an increase of 20% LRWS. Seasonal allocations in all other systems are unchanged.

"Rainfall in the last week increased inflows enough to allow the allocation increases announced today," said Resource Manager Dr Mark Bailey. "Now that the allocation in the Murray system has reached 100% HRWS, the remaining commitment to the Barmah Forest entitlement that had been borrowed to support allocations to water shares will be repaid before reserves are established for the 2012/13 season."

"Since 2 November, approximately 17,000 megalitres above the minimum operating requirements have been released from Lake Eildon to ensure the storage did not exceed full supply. Volumes in spillable water accounts and inter-valley trade accounts in the Goulburn system will be adjusted for these additional releases," said Dr Bailey.

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.

As allocations to HWRS in all systems have reached 100%, allocation updates will now be issued monthly. The next allocation announcement will be issued on Thursday 15 December 2011.

A risk of spill assessment for the Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be issued on Monday 12 December 2011.