More water for irrigators

The Murray system seasonal determination increases from 57 per cent of high-reliability water shares to 70 per cent.

The Goulburn and Loddon systems increase from 47 per cent to 51 per cent.

The Broken system increases from 83 per cent to 100 per cent.

The seasonal determination for Campaspe system low-reliability water shares increases from 55 per cent LRWS to 61 per cent.

The Bullarook system is unchanged with 100 per cent high reliability and 100 per cent low reliability.

Resource Manager Mark Bailey said increasing volumes of water in storage supported today’s seasonal determination increases.

“The volumes in Lake Hume and Dartmouth Reservoir have increased since the last assessment,” Dr Bailey said.

“This extra resource provided the seasonal determination increase in the Murray system.

“Levels at Lake Eildon are rising, but not to the same extent as the Murray storages.

“With demand for water remaining low for now, the flows in the rivers downstream of the storages are not contributing large volumes to the resources available for allocation in the Murray and Goulburn systems.

“The seasonal determination increase in the Goulburn system means the system’s early season reserve is now fully established.

“All additional available water in the Goulburn system will now be directed to increasing the seasonal determination.”

Dr Bailey also confirmed Lake Eppalock had refilled to capacity, affecting spillable water accounts in the Campaspe system.

“Due to the spills from Lake Eppalock, around 2500 Ml will be deducted from Campaspe spillable water accounts and other accounts such as the Campaspe intervalley trade account that are subject to spill,” he said.

“This represents about six per cent of the accounts’ total volume.”

In the seasonal outlooks, Murray system is forecast to reach 100 per cent by November 15 under average inflow conditions.

The Goulburn and Loddon systems may not reach 100 per cent until February next year under average inflow conditions.