Seasonal determinations lower than last season

By Rodney Woods

Jul 1, 2019

The Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems will all start 2019/20 with a seasonal determination of 2 per cent of high-reliability water shares.

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Resource manager for northern Victoria Mark Bailey also announced the Campaspe system will start 2019/20 with a seasonal determination of 26 per cent HRWS.

The Bullarook system begins the year on 19 per cent HRWS and the Broken system is on 0 per cent HRWS.

Dr Bailey said opening seasonal determinations are lower than last season due to limited availability of reserves.

"This is a direct result of the very dry conditions of the last two years," Dr Bailey said.

"Storages have not refilled because rainfall runoff was less than the volumes used."

Dr Bailey noted some recent improvement in catchment conditions had occurred but more rain was needed to increase storage levels and seasonal determinations.

Dr Bailey said the risk of spill in each of the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems is below the 10 per cent threshold needed to declare a low risk of spill.

Water held in spillable water accounts in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be made available for use or trade.

By Rodney Woods

Sports journalist