Opening Seasonal Determinations for 2013/14 Announced

Announcement Date: 1 Jul 2013
Next Announcement Due: 15 Jul 2013

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 42% -% 0% Not declared
Broken 0% -% 0% -
Goulburn 51% -% 0% Not declared
Campaspe 100% -% 0% Not declared
Loddon 51% -% 0% -
Bullarook Creek 0% -% 0% -

Further Information

The Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems today announced the first seasonal determination and risk of spill assessment for 2013/14.

The Murray system seasonal determination is 42% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS). The seasonal determination in the Goulburn and Loddon systems is 51% HRWS. Campaspe system customers have a seasonal determination of 100% HRWS. The seasonal determinations in the Broken and Bullarook systems are 0% HRWS. Water held in spillable water accounts is not available in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems due to high probabilities of spill.

“This is the third consecutive season that the Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems have received a seasonal determination at the opening announcement,” said Dr Mark Bailey, Resource Manager. “Seasonal determinations in the Broken and Bullarook systems are not yet possible, but the volumes carried over will ensure water is available early in the season.”

“Higher use in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems in 2012/13 means the volume of allocation carried over is lower than in previous seasons,” said Dr Bailey. “There will be approximately 850,000 ML carried over in the Murray system, 450,000 ML in the Goulburn and 25,000 ML in the Campaspe system.”

“It is unlikely that a low risk of spill will be declared in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems early in the 2013/14 season. However, the declaration may occur earlier than in the past two seasons if conditions remain dry,” added Dr Bailey.

Trading Opportunities

The probability of spill in the Victorian Murray system is currently greater than 50%. Therefore, trade into Victoria from New South Wales will be limited to the volume of trade out of Victoria to New South Wales. The availability of trade from NSW into the Victorian Murray system will be recalculated on 10 August 2013, and the 10th of each month thereafter. This limit is part of trade controls announced in November 2012 to prevent trade impacting on new season allocations.

Customers participating in the water trading market are advised that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority has announced that the trading of water allocations from above the Barmah Choke to downstream of the choke will continue in the 2013/14 water year. 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

  • An updated probability of spill in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be announced on 10 July 2013.
  • The next seasonal determination announcement will be released on Monday 15 July 2013 and will include an updated seasonal outlook.