The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today updated the 2017/18 seasonal determinations.
The low-reliability water shares (LRWS) seasonal determination in the Campaspe system increases from 52 per cent to 55 per cent. The Campaspe system also has 100 per cent high-reliability water shares (HRWS).
The seasonal determinations in the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems remain unchanged at 100 per cent HRWS. The Broken and Bullarook systems remain at 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent LRWS.
Resource Manager Mark Bailey said resource availability across northern Victoria had improved slightly despite recent warm and dry weather.
“Actual evaporation and river losses were lower than estimated in the Campaspe system, which translates to greater resource availability for seasonal determination and the improvement announced today,” Dr Bailey said.
“Similar conditions were observed in other systems. However, those systems are either at the maximum possible seasonal determination already or building reserves for the 2018/19 season in line with the seasonal determination policy for northern Victoria.
“For example, the shortfall to a low-reliability water share seasonal determination in the Goulburn system has fallen to about 770 GL. The shortfall in the Murray system is about 420 GL.
“The closure of the shortfalls in these systems during 2017/18 will depend on further resource improvement through the reduction of current commitments and strong storage inflows.”
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Thursday, February 15.
| Murray |
100% |
0% |
| Broken |
100% |
100% |
| Goulburn |
100% |
0% |
| Campaspe |
100% |
55% |
| Loddon |
100% |
0% |
| Bullarook |
100% |
100% |
Trading Opportunities
Allocation trade from New South Wales to Victoria is limited to the lesser of a volume that keeps the risk of spill in the Murray system below 50 per cent (currently 300 GL) or a net annual volume of 200 GL. The trade limit currently allows 200 GL of net trade from New South Wales to Victoria.
Continuing transfers to meet demands in the River Murray downstream of the Barmah Choke means the Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade (IVT) account owes about 210 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.
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 2017/18 seasonal determinations are updated on Thursday 15 March 2018.