Low-Reliability Water Share Seasonal Determination in Murray System

The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today announced increased seasonal determinations in the Murray system.

Seasonal determinations in the Murray system increased from 0 per cent of low-reliability water shares (LRWS) to 5 per cent LRWS. The 100 per cent high-reliability water shares (HRWS) announced previously remains in effect.

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

Resource Manager Mark Bailey said water resource availability in the Murray system had improved enough to announce a seasonal determination for low-reliability water shares for the first time.

“January inflows into the Murray system were higher than estimated and the inflows forecast for February have increased,” Dr Bailey said.

“Recent rainfall along the Murray also reduced losses.

“A seasonal determination for low-reliability water shares means the Murray system is holding strong reserves for 2017/18.

"The system will still need water to flow into the dams during 2017/18 to announce maximum seasonal determinations for high-reliability water shares.”

While also experiencing recent resource improvement, the seasonal determination in the Goulburn system remained at 100 per cent HRWS.

“The improvement in the Goulburn system was similar to the Murray system,” Dr Bailey said.

“The shortfall to a seasonal determination for low-reliability water shares in 2016/17 is now about 430 gigalitres.”

Trading Opportunities

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

Trade to the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia from the Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems is restricted when the total volume owed to the Murray system is greater than 200 GL. The current volume owed to the Murray system is close to the 200 GL limit. Further trading opportunities will be available as deliveries from the Goulburn inter-valley trade account to the Murray system are occurring or if backtrade occurs. Delivery from inter valley trade account in the Broken system has also continued.

The Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems can trade from the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia while the total volume owed to the Murray system is greater than zero.

Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website.

The trading of water allocations from above the Barmah Choke to downstream of the Barmah Choke is restricted to protect the delivery of downstream water entitlements. Customers can monitor trading opportunities across the Barmah Choke on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority website. Trade from upstream of the Barmah Choke to downstream is restricted to backtrade, which is the volume of allocation trade from downstream of the Barmah Choke to upstream.

Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements

• The next 2016/17 seasonal determination announcement will be released on Wednesday 15 March, 2017.