Seasonal determination update for 2017/18

Wednesday 15 November, 2017

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

The Goulburn system and the Loddon system both increase from 93 per cent to 94 per cent high-reliability water shares (HRWS).

A seasonal determination of 20 per cent of low-reliability water shares (LRWS) is available in the Broken system. The Broken system also has 100 per cent HRWS.

The LRWS seasonal determination in the Campaspe system increases from 30 per cent to 33 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 tributary inflows in the Broken system downstream of Lake Nillahcootie had improved system resources.

“While low, the tributary inflows helped meet operating commitments and allowed more water in Lake Nillahcootie to be used to improve seasonal determinations,” Dr Bailey said.

“The small improvements announced for the seasonal determinations in the Goulburn and Loddon systems also came from tributary flows meeting some of the delivery commitments."

With water borrowed from the Barmah Forest now repaid and a low risk of spill declared earlier this month, the Resource Manager has calculated the shortfall to a LRWS seasonal determination in the Murray system.

“The current shortfall to a low-reliability water share seasonal determination in the Murray system is 860 GL,” Dr Bailey said.

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

Water System High-Reliability Water Share Low-Reliability Water Share
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Wednesday, November 15.
Murray 100% 0%
Broken 100% 20%
Goulburn 94% 0%
Campaspe 100% 33%
Loddon 94% 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. Following the declaration of a low risk of spill in the Murray system on November 10, 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 266 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 are expected to start this month. The timing and volume delivered to the Murray system this season depends heavily on seasonal operating conditions.

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 will be updated on Monday 11 December 2017.
  • The 2017/18 seasonal determinations will be updated on Friday 1 December 2017.