SA Environment Minister David Speirs said favourable conditions across the Murray-Darling Basin and good levels of water in storage meant allocations would start at 100 per cent for the opening of the 2021-22 water year.
“This is great news for the state's irrigators as it means they can begin the new water year with confidence and plan their business with the knowledge they will have access to 100 per cent allocation from day one,” Mr Speirs said.
“What we've experienced over summer is relatively mild conditions followed by decent rainfall across the basin.”
The minister said water storage levels in June were also much higher than in recent years, including those in the Menindee Lakes.
Seasonal allocations for the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District are likely to open at less than 100 per cent.
Northern Victoria resource manager Mark Bailey said in mid-May the drier autumn had done little to improve the volumes in storages.
“Opening seasonal determinations in the Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems are likely to be less than 25 per cent of high-reliability water shares,” Dr Bailey said.
“We currently expect the Broken and Bullarook systems to start 2021-22 at zero per cent.
“The Murray system outlook includes the impact of the Menindee Lakes recently becoming a shared resource available to Victoria,” he said on May 17.
“It also includes the borrow and subsequent repayment of allocation from the Barmah-Millewa Forest Environmental Water Account during the season, which is a regular component of Murray seasonal determinations.
“Carried-over allocation is fully deliverable in all systems from July 1.”
On June 18, Lake Eildon was holding 57 per cent of capacity and Dartmouth was at 64 per cent.
Hume reservoir is at 50 per cent.
The next seasonal determination is expected to be announced on July 1.
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