The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today updated the 2017/18 seasonal determinations.
The Murray system increases from 98 per cent to 100 per cent of high-reliability water shares (HRWS).
The Goulburn system and the Loddon system both increase from 71 per cent to 81 per cent HRWS.
The low-reliability water share (LRWS) seasonal determination in the Campaspe system increases from 16 per cent to 24 per cent. The Campaspe system also has 100 per cent HRWS.
The Broken system increases from 36 per cent to 41 per cent HRWS.
The seasonal determination in the Bullarook system remains unchanged at 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent LRWS.
Resource Manager Mark Bailey said flows into the major storages continued to increase water resource availability across northern Victoria, despite low rainfall during September.
“The Goulburn system benefited most from flows in the storages over the past fortnight,” Dr Bailey said.
“Storage volume improvements were smaller in the other systems due to low rainfall totals.”
With the Murray system’s seasonal determination reaching 100 per cent HRWS, the Resource Manager will start repaying water borrowed from the Barmah Forest account.
“Water was borrowed from the Barmah Forest to improve early seasonal determinations for high-reliability water shares,” Dr Bailey said.
“Low-reliability water share assessments for the Murray system will start when all the borrowed water in the Murray system is repaid. The remaining balance is 160 gigalitres.”
Dr Bailey advised that it is likely that Victoria will not be able store all of the water that flowed into its share of Lake Hume during September.
“Victoria’s share of Lake Hume is expected to be full at the end of September. If confirmed by the Murray‑Darling Basin Authority, a deduction from Murray system spillable water accounts will be needed,” Dr Bailey said.
“The status of Victoria’s share during September will be confirmed with the next seasonal determination announcement on October 16. Any volumes deducted will be announced at that time.
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Monday, October 2.
| Murray |
100% |
0% |
| Broken |
41% |
0% |
| Goulburn |
81% |
0% |
| Campaspe |
100% |
24% |
| Loddon |
81% |
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. Trading opportunities are next updated on October 10, 2017.
The Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade (IVT) account owes about 247 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. Further information about how trade opportunities are calculated has recently been added to the allocation trading page.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has announced that trading of water allocations from above the Barmah Choke to downstream of the Choke is restricted to protect the delivery of downstream water entitlements. Customers can monitor trading opportunities across the Barmah Choke on the MDBA website.
Upcoming Resource Manager Announcements
- The next risk of spill in the Murray and Campaspe systems will be issued on Tuesday 10 October 2017
- The next 2017/18 seasonal determination announcement including an updated outlook will be released on Monday 16 October 2017.