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 Campaspe system seasonal determination is 100% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) and 46% of low-reliability water shares (LRWS), an increase of 3% 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 improved Campaspe system seasonal determination announced today was mostly due to a reduction of commitment as the season progresses. “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 Campaspe system has improved enough with the reduced commitments to announce increased seasonal determinations.”

“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. “Shortfalls to making seasonal determinations for low-reliability water shares have not reduced in the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems. There is still a chance of a seasonal determination in the Goulburn and Loddon systems occurring this season, but inflows need to improve. 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/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 Campaspe system will be updated on Friday 10 January 2014
• The next seasonal determination announcement will be issued on Wednesday 15 January 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 volume in Campaspe spillable water accounts is available from the Victorian Water Register (waterregister.vic.gov.au) using the “Unused Water” option. The Victorian Water Register also contains information about the volume returned from SWAs to ABAs in the Murray and Goulburn systems. 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.