The Resource Manager for northern Victoria today updated the seasonal determinations for 2022/23 water availability.
The seasonal determination in the Murray system moves from 96 per cent of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) to 100 per cent HWRS. The Goulburn and Loddon systems increase from 68 per cent HRWS to 76 per cent HWRS.
The Campaspe system moves from 70 per cent HRWS to 77 per cent HRWS. The Broken system increases from 38 per cent HRWS to 46 per cent HRWS.
The seasonal determination in the Bullarook system increases from 19 per cent HRWS to 100 per cent HRWS and 40 per cent of low-reliability water shares.
Resource Manager Mark Bailey said this was the earliest the Murray system seasonal determination had reached 100 per cent in 20 years.
“The Murray system seasonal determination last reached 100 per cent HRWS at the start of August in 2002/03,” Dr Bailey said.
“It comes on the back of reserves established last season and the significant volumes in the Murray storages.
“The gains in the other systems were created by rainfall in the catchment areas and runoff entering the major storages.”
Dr Bailey said continued rainfall was needed to increase seasonal determinations, with longer term predictions favouring wetter conditions.
“The latest Bureau of Meteorology forecast suggests above-average rainfall will continue through to November,” Dr Bailey added.
Dr Bailey reminded customers in the Murray system that deductions from spillable water accounts will occur because of releases from Lake Hume for airspace management.
“The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is managing the rate of filling at Lake Hume by controlled releases. Entitlements holders in the Murray system should note a deduction from spillable water accounts will occur in mid-August after the volumes released during July are confirmed.”
The seasonal determinations for northern Victorian water systems on Monday 1 August are:
| Murray |
100% |
0% |
| Broken |
46% |
0% |
| Goulburn |
76% |
0% |
| Campaspe |
77% |
0% |
| Loddon |
76% |
0% |
| Bullarook |
100% |
40% |
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 from Victoria’s share of both Lake Hume and Dartmouth Reservoir below 50 per cent. Presently, allocation trade from New South Wales to Victoria is not possible because Victoria’s shares of Lake Hume and Dartmouth Reservoir are full. The opportunity for allocation trade is updated with each risk of spill announcement. Customers can learn more about trade opportunities and a trial of improved trade adjustment methods on the Victorian Water Register website.
A new trade rule for trade from the Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe and Loddon systems to the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia came into effect on July, 1 2022. Further trade opportunities will be announced in October and December based on seasonal conditions. From December, net trade will be capped.
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 Victorian Water Register website.
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 risk of spill in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be updated on Wednesday 10 August 2022.
- The next 2022/23 seasonal determination announcement will be released on Monday 15 August 2022.