2013/14 Seasonal Determinations Update

Announcement Date: 15 Jan 2014
Next Announcement Due: 17 Feb 2014

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

  High Reliability Water Share Change to High Reliability Water Share Low Reliability Water Share Comments
Murray 100% 0% 0% Declared 10 December 2013
Broken 100% 0% 100% -
Goulburn 100% 0% 0% Declared 10 December 2013
Campaspe 100% 0% 46% Declared 10 January 2014
Loddon 100% 0% 0% -
Bullarook Creek 100% 0% 100% -

Further Information

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

Seasonal Determinations

The seasonal determinations in all systems remain unchanged. The Campaspe system seasonal determination remains at 100% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) and 46% of low-reliability water shares (LRWS).

The Murray, Goulburn and Loddon system seasonal determinations are unchanged at 100% HRWS. The Broken and Bullarook system seasonal determinations remain at 100% HRWS and 100% LRWS.

Dr Mark Bailey, Resource Manager, said the available resources in the Campaspe system have remained the same since the last assessment. “The inflows and reduction in commitments from Lake Eppalock over the last month has been consistent with our estimates. Without an improvement in the available resources in the Campaspe system, the seasonal determination is unchanged.”

“Below average conditions over the past month have not helped the availability of low-reliability water shares in the Goulburn, Loddon and Murray systems,” said Dr Bailey. “Lower than expected system operating requirements have reduced the shortfalls to making seasonal determinations for low-reliability water shares in the Goulburn and Loddon systems. The shortfall is about 150 GL. There is still a chance of a seasonal determination in the Goulburn and Loddon systems occurring this season, but inflows need to improve. The Murray system shortfall is about 710 GL, and there is a much smaller probability of closing the shortfall in the Murray system.”

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 close to 200 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 http://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.

Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements

  • The next seasonal determination announcement will be issued on Monday 17 February 2014.
  • An outlook for the 2014/15 season will be issued on Monday 17 February 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.