Carryover allows water entitlement holders to take allocations that are unused at the end of a season in the following season. It provides all water users - irrigators, urban water corporations, and environmental managers – with greater flexibility to manage their own water availability between seasons.

Carryover was first introduced in March 2007 as an emergency drought response for water share holders in northern Victoria.

After the success of this pilot project trialling carryover with Murray and Goulburn irrigators, permanent carryover was confirmed later that year, and a review of the carryover rules, to give users greater choice in managing their water, was conducted through the Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy.

The Victorian Water Register website provides more information on current carryover rules and history on the reform of carryover.