2013/14 Seasonal Determinations Updated

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

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 Broken system seasonal determination is 100% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) and 100% of low-reliability water shares (LRWS), an increase of 100% LRWS. The Campaspe system seasonal determination is 100% HRWS and 43% low-reliability water shares (LRWS), an increase of 5% LRWS.

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

Dr Mark Bailey, Resource Manager, said the improved seasonal determinations announced today were largely due to reductions of commitment with time. "We have moved another month into the season, which means our remaining operating commitments have decreased. Even though there has been relatively little inflow over the past month, the resource positions in the Broken and Campaspe systems have improved enough with the lesser commitments to announce increased seasonal determinations."

"The dry conditions of the past month have not helped the availability of low-reliability water shares in the Goulburn, Loddon and Murray systems," said Dr Bailey. "Shortfalls to making seasonal determinations for low-reliability water shares have widened in the Goulburn and Loddon systems because inflows have been less than average. There is still a chance of a seasonal determination in the Goulburn and Loddon systems occurring this season, but inflows need to improve. The shortfall in the Murray system has been aided by a reduction of spillable water accounts following pre-releases at the start of October, although there is a much smaller probability of closing the shortfall this season."

Murray spillable water accounts and Living Murray extended use accounts will have 36 GL deducted on 15 November for pre-releases that occurred in early October. All water in spillable water accounts in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems remain quarantined from use because the risk of spill in these systems remains above the 10% threshold.

Trading Opportunities

A volume of 75 GL is available for trade from New South Wales into Victoria because the risk of spill in the Victorian Murray system is now less than 50%. Further availability of trade into Victoria from New South Wales will be reassessed on 10 December 2013 and the 10th day (or following business day) of each month thereafter.

Less than 200 GL is now owed to the Murray system from the Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade account. 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/Public/Reports/InterValley.aspx..

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 December 2013
• As seasonal determinations to HWRS in all systems have reached 100%, seasonal determination updates will now be issued monthly. The next seasonal determination announcement will be issued on Monday 16 December 2013 and on the 15th (or next business day) of each month thereafter.

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 in Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe spillable water accounts 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.