Seasonal determination update for 2014/15

Determination Data

Seasonal determinations for northern Victoria regulated river systems.

Further Information

Resource Manager for northern Victoria Mark Bailey today announced an increased seasonal determination for the Broken system.

The seasonal determination in the Broken system will increase by 5 per cent low-reliability water shares (LRWS) to 100 per cent LRWS. The seasonal determination of high reliability water shares (HRWS) in the Broken system is 100 per cent.

Seasonal determinations in the Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems stay at 100 per cent HRWS. The Bullarook system remains at 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent LRWS.

"The seasonal determination improvement announced today for the Broken system is due to continuing, but low, inflows that are helping meet system demands and river operating requirements," Dr Bailey said.

"Inflows to northern Victorian storages are generally highest during the winter and spring months. This year, the inflows over this period were about half of the long-term average in the Murray and Goulburn systems. The Campaspe and Loddon systems both received less than a quarter of the long term average.

"These reduced inflows mean the possibility of announcing seasonal determinations against low reliability water shares in the Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems this season is now low.

"A small low-reliability seasonal determination in the Murray system is statistically possible if conditions turn wet rapidly."

Trading opportunities

Allocation trade from New South Wales (NSW) to Victoria is limited to the lesser of a net annual volume of 200 GL or the volume that keeps the risk of spill in the Murray system below 50 per cent.

The spill risk limit allows more than 200 GL of trade. Therefore, the net annual volume of 200 GL will apply unless advised otherwise. An update on trading opportunities will be issued with the next seasonal determination announcement on January 15, 2015.

The volume owed to the Murray system from the Goulburn system's inter-valley trade account is currently about 170 GL. Trade from the Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems to the Victorian Murray, or to NSW and South Australia, is allowed while the total volume owed to the Murray is less than 200 GL.

The volume in the Broken system's inter-valley trade account is currently about 1,500 ML. Trade from the Broken system is allowed when the balance of this account is less than 1,500 ML.

Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-trading/allocation-trading.

Customers participating in the water trading market are advised the trading of water allocations from above the Barmah Choke to downstream of the choke is restricted to protect the delivery of downstream water entitlements. Trade to entitlement holders downstream of the choke can only occur if there has been trade to entitlement holders upstream of the choke. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority will regularly review the ability to trade across the Barmah Choke and may lift the restriction at any time during the season if possible.

Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements

The next seasonal determination and trading opportunity announcement will be issued on Thursday, January 15, 2015 and on the 15th (or next business day) of each month thereafter.

For further information go to www.nvrm.net.au, waterregister.vic.gov.au, www.mdba.gov.au and
www.g-mwater.com.au