All seasonal determinations reach 100 per cent HRWS for 2017/18

The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today updated the 2017/18 seasonal determinations.

The Goulburn system and the Loddon system both increase from 94 per cent to 100 per cent high-reliability water shares (HRWS).

The low-reliability water shares (LRWS) seasonal determination in the Broken system increases from 20 per cent to 63 per cent. The Broken system also has 100 per cent HRWS.

The LRWS seasonal determination in the Campaspe system increases from 33 per cent to 46 per cent. The Campaspe system also has 100 per cent HRWS.

The seasonal determination in the Murray system remains unchanged at 100 per cent HRWS and the Bullarook system remains at 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent LRWS.

Resource Manager Mark Bailey said improved flows in the Goulburn, Broken and Campaspe systems had increased resources available for the seasonal determinations in each system.

“While relatively low, tributary inflows helped meet operating commitments in each system and flows into the storages were higher than estimated. These factors enabled the seasonal determinations to increase,” Dr Bailey said.

“The current shortfall to a low-reliability water share seasonal determination in the Murray system remains at 850 GL and the shortfall in the Goulburn system is about 1,000 GL.

“Closure of the shortfalls during 2017/18 will depend on the reduction of current commitments and improved inflows to increase resources.”

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 trade limit allows 200 GL of net trade from New South Wales to Victoria.

The Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade (IVT) account owes about 268 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.

Deliveries of Goulburn system IVT to support Murray system operations may commence later this month. The timing and volume delivered to the Murray system depends heavily on seasonal operating conditions, which are expected to change significantly over the coming days with widespread forecast rainfall.

Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website. Customers can monitor trading opportunities across the Barmah Choke on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority website.

Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements

• The risk of spill for the Campaspe system is updated on Monday December 11, 2017.
• The 2017/18 seasonal determinations are updated on Friday December 15, 2017.