Seasonal determination - 1 August 2019

Thursday 1 August, 2019

2019/20 seasonal determination and outlook update

The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today updated the 2019/20 seasonal determinations.

The Murray system moves from 6 per cent of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) to 16 per cent HRWS.

The Goulburn and Loddon systems increase from 8 per cent HRWS to 25 per cent HRWS.

The Campaspe system moves from 31 per cent HRWS to 37 per cent HRWS.

Seasonal determinations in the Broken system remain on 0 per cent HRWS. The Bullarook system remains on 100% HRWS and 100% low-reliability water shares (LRWS).

Resource Manager Andrew Shields said rainfall in the catchment areas during July had increased the flows into the major storages and improved the volume of water available. 

“The catchments are responding well to the rainfall we have had, however more rain is required to maintain flows into the storages and help increase seasonal determinations,” he said.

Mr Shields said there was some improvement in the volume of water available in the Broken system, but more was still needed to ensure carried over allocation can be delivered throughout 2019/20.

“The latest Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook indicates below-average rainfall across all of northern Victoria is more likely during the August to October period,” Mr Shields said.

Mr Shields advised water users to consider available weather and climate information in conjunction with the seasonal determination outlooks when planning their water needs in 2019/20.

Water System High-Reliability Water Share Low-Reliability Water Share
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Thursday, August 1.
Murray 16% 0%
Broken 0% 0%
Goulburn 25% 0%
Campaspe 37% 0%
Loddon 25% 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. The current risk of spill in the Murray system allows 200 GL of net trade from New South Wales to Victoria.

The Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade (IVT) account owes about 214 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.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is restricting trade of water allocations from above the Barmah Choke to downstream of the Choke to protect the delivery of downstream water entitlements. Customers can monitor trading opportunities across the Barmah Choke on the MDBA's website.

Upcoming Resource Manager announcements

  • The next 2019/20 seasonal determination announcement will be released on Thursday 15 August 2019 and will include an updated seasonal determination outlook.