Call to explore water options

The state government is also asking the Victorian Environmental Water Holder to explore further trade opportunities that could make more water available for farmers and ease pressure on water prices, and instructing all Victorian water corporations to put in place their water preparedness policies.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has also been asked to consider all available water and how it can be best used, and the Federal Government called on to deliver the funding for the 605Gl worth of environmental offset projects under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan that will mean efficient delivery of environmental water.

Lack of rain across the state is contributing to dry conditions in northern Victoria, although water restrictions are currently not in place in Victorian towns and allocations for irrigators are in a similar range to this time last year.