Final 2013/14 Seasonal Determinations Update

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

Further Information

The Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems today announced the final seasonal determinations update for the 2013/14 season and current trading opportunities.

Seasonal Determinations

The seasonal determinations in all systems remain unchanged. The Murray, Goulburn and Loddon system seasonal determinations are unchanged at 100% high-reliability water shares (HRWS). The Broken and Bullarook system seasonal determinations remain at 100% HRWS and 100% of low-reliability water shares (LRWS).

The Campaspe system seasonal determination remains at 100% HRWS and 46% LRWS.

Dr Mark Bailey, Resource Manager, said the available resources had not improved since the last update was issued in mid March. “The status of the available resources meant the shortfalls to LRWS in the Goulburn, Loddon and Murray systems could not be closed this season. The final shortfall in the Goulburn and Loddon systems is about 140 GL. The Murray system shortfall is about 510 GL. Although a LRWS seasonal determination was not possible, there are reserves established to ensure the 2014/15 season will start with good HRWS seasonal determinations in the Goulburn, Loddon and Murray systems.”

More information on the resource position and other contributing factors to the availability of low-reliability water shares for these systems is available at www.nvrm.net.au/allocations/lrws-explained.aspx

Trading Opportunities

Allocation trade from New South Wales to Victoria is limited to a net annual volume of 200 GL, or the volume that keeps the risk of spill in the Murray system below 50%, whichever is the lesser. The spill risk limit now allows more than 200 GL of trade. Therefore, the net annual volume of 200 GL applies for the rest of this season, unless advised otherwise.

The volume owed to the Murray system from the Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade account is about 60 GL. Trade from the Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems to the Victorian Murray, or to New South Wales and South Australia, is allowed while the total volume owed to the Murray is less than 200 GL. Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-trading/allocation-trading.

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 Murray-Darling Basin Authority will regularly review the ability to trade across the Barmah Choke and may lift the relaxation at any time during the season.

Murray Carryover Limit

Entitlement holders in the Murray system are reminded that from the end of the 2013/14 season, the 100% limit on carryover will apply so that entitlement holders cannot carryover more than their full water share volume.

Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements

• An outlook for seasonal determinations in the 2014/15 season will be issued on Thursday 15 May 2014.
• The first seasonal determination announcement for the 2014/15 season will be issued on Tuesday 1 July 2014.

For information about the Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems, including seasonal determinations and resource availability, please visit www.nvrm.net.au.

The volumes returned from SWAs to ABAs are available from the Victorian Water Register (waterregister.vic.gov.au) using the “Unused Water” option. The status of Victorian shares of Murray storages is available at www.mdba.gov.au/what-we-do/managing-rivers/river-murray-system/water-sharing. Total volumes in Lake Hume, Lake Eildon and Lake Eppalock are reported at www.g mwater.com.au/water-resources/storage-levels.