Water

Murray system at 100%

By McPherson Media Group

Nov 15, 2024

Murray system irrigators will now receive 100 per cent of their high-reliability water shares this season.

Victorian Murray system irrigation allocations have increased to 100 per cent of high-reliability water shares.

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Updating the 2024-25 seasonal determinations on Friday, northern Victoria resource manager Mark Bailey said the Murray system had increased from 98 per cent HRWS to 100 per cent HRWS.

The Broken system increased from 45 per cent HRWS to 47 per cent HRWS.

In the Campaspe system, the low-reliability water shares seasonal determination increased from 38 per cent LRWS to 41 per cent LRWS. The Campaspe system already has 100 per cent HRWS.

Seasonal determinations in the Goulburn (100 per cent HRWS), Loddon (100 per cent HRWS) and Bullarook systems (zero HRWS) are unchanged.

Only the Campaspe season has any LRWS availability.

Dr Bailey said small resource improvements across several areas produced the increased seasonal determinations.

“The flows into the Murray storages, Lake Nillahcootie and Lake Eppalock were slightly greater than we forecast at the last update,” he said.

“Lower than forecast evaporation and helped increase the amount available for allocation.

"There is still insufficient water available to make a seasonal determination in the Bullarook system.

“The deficit is closing. Customers with carryover allocation are able to access that water when needed.”

The next 2024-25 seasonal determination update will be on Monday, December 2.