Seasonal Determination in Murray system at 100 per cent high-reliability water shares

Monday 3 October, 2016

The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today announced increases to 2016/17 seasonal determinations in all systems – except the Bullarook system which is already at 100 per cent.

The Murray system increases by 17 per cent to 100 per cent of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) and the Goulburn and Loddon systems increase by 13 per cent to 86 per cent HRWS.

The low-reliability water share (LRWS) seasonal determination in the Campaspe system increases from 0 per cent to 43 per cent. The LRWS seasonal determination in the Broken system increases from 14 per cent to 52 per cent.

The Bullarook system remains unchanged at 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent LRWS.

Resource Manager Mark Bailey said rainfall continued to increase water resource availability across northern Victoria.

“Heavy rainfall during the second half of September led to significantly increased volumes in storage in the Loddon and Campaspe systems,” Dr Bailey said.

“The changes generated the seasonal determination improvements announced today and established operating reserves for 2017/18 in both systems.

“Further reserves in the Murray system are being established now that the seasonal determination has reached 100 per cent HRWS.

“The next assessment will include comments about the resource position relative to low-reliability water share seasonal determinations.”

Dr Bailey also confirmed that pre-releases had continued from Lake Hume throughout September.

“The volume of spill from Victoria’s share of Lake Hume during September was greater than the total volume held in spillable water accounts and environmental water accounts in the Murray system," he said.

"This means 100 per cent of the volume held in spillable water accounts and environmental water accounts will be deducted.”

Water System High-Reliability Water Share Low-Reliability Water Share
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Monday, October 3.
Murray 100% 0%
Broken 100% 52%
Goulburn 100% 0%
Campaspe 100% 43%
Loddon 100% 0%
Bullarook 100% 100%

 

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. As the risk of spill in the Murray system is above 50 per cent, trade from New South Wales to Victoria is limited to the volume traded from Victoria to New South Wales since September 1, 2016.

Trading opportunities from New South Wales to Victoria are next updated on October 10, 2016.

The Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade (IVT) account now owes about 200 GL to the Murray system. The Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems can trade to the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia while the total volume owed to the Murray system is less than 200 GL.

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.

Trade into the Loddon system is now limited to the net volume traded out this season as the opening balance of IVT account has been lost due to Cairn Curran and Tullaroop reservoirs filling and spilling.

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 risk of spill update for the Murray and Campaspe systems will be released on Monday October 10, 2016.
  • The next 2016/17 seasonal determination announcement, including an updated outlook, will be released on Monday October 17, 2016.