Seasonal determination update
The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today announced an update to the 2020/21 seasonal determinations.
The Murray system increases from 88 per cent high-reliability water shares (HRWS) to 90 per cent HRWS.
Seasonal determinations in the Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems remain at 100 per cent HRWS.
The Broken and Bullarook systems are unchanged at 100 per cent HRWS and 100 per cent of low‑reliability water shares (LRWS).
Resource Manager Mark Bailey said flows into the Murray system were better than expected.
“Flows into the Murray system were greater than estimated despite the lack of substantial rain,” Dr Bailey said.
“These flows contributed to the Murray system improvement announced today.”
Dr Bailey said the latest Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook mostly favours above-average rainfall across the catchment areas for the three-month period from January to March.
“The Bureau says La Niña conditions will likely persist until late summer or early autumn. A La Niña may support above‑average rainfall across eastern Australia during summer,” Dr Bailey said.
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Monday, January 4.
| Murray |
90% |
0% |
| Broken |
100% |
100% |
| Goulburn |
100% |
0% |
| Campaspe |
100% |
0% |
| Loddon |
100% |
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 Victoria’s share of the both Hume and Dartmouth reservoirs 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. Customers can find out more about trade adjustments on the Water Register website Water Register website.
The Goulburn system’s inter-valley trade (IVT) account owes about 258 GL to the Murray system. Delivery from the Goulburn and Broken IVT accounts to the River Murray will continue through January. 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.
Conversely, 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, 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 website.
Upcoming Resource Manager announcements
- The next 2020/21 seasonal determination announcement and updated Murray outlook will be released on Friday January 15, 2021.