Seasonal Determinations for 2013/14 Updated
| Announcement Date: |
2 Sep 2013 |
| Next Announcement Due: |
16 Sep 2013 |
Determination Data
Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.
| Murray |
66% |
+9% |
0% |
Not declared |
| Broken |
42% |
+9% |
0% |
- |
| Goulburn |
100% |
+5% |
0% |
Not declared |
| Campaspe |
100% |
0% |
0% |
Not declared |
| Loddon |
100% |
+5% |
0% |
- |
| Bullarook Creek |
20% |
+20% |
0% |
- |
Further Information
The Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems today announced an update to the seasonal determinations for the 2013/14 season.
The Murray system seasonal determination is 66% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS), an increase of 9%. The seasonal determination in the Goulburn and Loddon systems has increased by 5% to reach 100% HRWS. The Broken system seasonal determination is up by 9% to be 42% HRWS. The Bullarook system seasonal determination is 20% HRWS.
The Campaspe system seasonal determination is unchanged at 100% HRWS.
"The volumes in northern Victorian storages have increased with persistent rainfall over the last fortnight," said Dr Mark Bailey, Resource Manager. "The improvements in the Bullarook system storages were enough to announce a positive seasonal determination for the first time this season. Inflows allowed the Goulburn and Loddon systems to reach 100% HRWS and begin building the reserves for the 2014/15 season."
"The improvement in the Murray system seasonal determination does not include the impact of recent operations at Lake Hume and Dartmouth Reservoir, where pre-releases have occurred for the past three weeks," said Dr Bailey. "Under Victorian water accounting rules, pre-releases made prior to the declaration of a low risk of spill reduce spillable water accounts and allow all inflows to contribute to increased seasonal determinations. The total volume spilled from Lake Hume will be confirmed in early September and is expected to be about 300 gigalitres. The confirmed volume will be deducted from Murray spillable water accounts and contribute to an increased seasonal determination on 16 September."
Dr Bailey added, "No spills have yet occurred from Lake Eildon in the Goulburn system or from Lake Eppalock in the Campaspe system. However, the risk of spill is high in both systems."
Trading Opportunities
With the probability of spill in the Victorian Murray system greater than 50%, the volume of trade into Victoria from New South Wales is limited to the volume of trade from Victoria to New South Wales. The availability of trade into Victoria from New South Wales will be reassessed on 10 September 2013 and the 10th day (or following business day) of each month thereafter. This limit is part of the trade controls announced in November 2012 to prevent trade impacting on new season allocations.
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 probability of spill in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be updated on Tuesday 10 September 2013.
- The next seasonal determination announcement will be released on Monday 16 September 2013.