Water

NSW Murray water allocation increases

Jul 21, 2023

WaterNSW has released the latest allocations for the NSW Murray system. Photo by Geoff Adams

There is a 55 per cent increase to general security allocation in the NSW Murray system, taking allocations to their maximum annual limit for 2023-24 of 110 per cent of entitlement.

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In addition, high security and conveyance entitlements have also been incremented to their full allocation of 100 per cent of entitlement, in accordance with the water sharing plan.

Rainfall over the past few weeks has facilitated ongoing unregulated conditions in the NSW Murray system.

Subject to their licence conditions and approved periods of access, supplementary access licence holders can continue to take water. Details of supplementary access opportunity can be found at: waterinsights.waternsw.com.au

However, general security uncontrolled flow access provisions are no longer available as full allocations for general security have been achieved.

The Barmah Millewa Environmental Water Allowance account is fully available in 2023-24 but is subject to spill commensurate to Hume Dam spill volumes, as per the operating rules of the allowance.

For the 2023-24 water year, all but 100 gigalitres of the allowance is subject to spill. Therefore, if sufficient spill at Hume is recorded, the allowance will spill down to 100Gl.

Murray storage levels (as at July 17) are: Dartmouth Dam, 97 per cent full, holding 3,755,000 Ml; Hume Dam, 97 per cent full, holding 2,905,000 Ml; Lake Victoria, 75 per cent full, holding 505,000 Ml; and Menindee Lakes System, 83 per cent full, holding 1,435,000 Ml.

The NSW Murray share of this water is about 49 per cent, 50 per cent, 41 per cent and 33 per cent for these storages respectively, or 46 per cent in total (averaged across all storages).

In Murray, trade across the Barmah Choke remains restricted to ‘no net trade downstream’. Downstream trade opens to the extent of the volume of any upstream trade.

Water users are advised to monitor the Murray-Darling Basin Authority website at www.mdba.gov.au for information about the trade balance and status of trade across the Barmah Choke.

As all entitlements in the NSW Murray have reached their full allocation, publication of regular statements will cease until March 2024.

Nevertheless, a quarterly update of conditions will be provided in about October and in January, highlighting any significant changes or observations.