Irrigation Allocations - January 2011
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Irrigation demand across all systems was relatively low due to the continuing rainfall. Allocations in northern Victoria remained unchanged throughout January, while Southern Rural Water increased the low-reliability allocation for Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigators to 45% and the allocation for the Macalister Irrigation District to 95% of high-reliability water shares.
Surface Water Irrigation Allocations across Northern Victorian
| Water Corporation | System | HWRS Allocation | LRWS Allocation | % Change over the month | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Golburn Murray Water
|
Murray | 100% | - | - | G-MW’s latest allocation announcement was on 15 December. As all systems have 100% HRWS allocations, announcements will now be made monthly. |
| Goulburn | 100% | - | - | ||
| Campaspe | 100% | 100% | - | ||
| Broken | 100% | 100% | - | ||
| Loddon | 100% | - | - | ||
| Bullarook | 100% | 100% | - | ||
| Southern Rural Water | Werribee & Bacchus Marsh | 100% | 45% |
+20% |
Announced 25 January. |
| Macalister | 95% | - | +5% | Announced 25 January. | |
| Coliban Water | Coliban Rural System | 70% | - | - | Announced 15 September. |
| Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water | Wimmera Mallee Supply System | 81% | - | - | Announced 1 September. |
Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW)
Allocations on all northern systems remained unchanged throughout January. Demand during the month was low due to the wet conditions in northern Victoria.
Allocations against low-reliability shares in 2010/11 for the Goulburn and Murray systems remains unlikely, due to a combination of factors, including the large volume of water carried over from 2009/10, very low demand to date and the fact that all storages downstream of Lake Eildon and Dartmouth Reservoir are full and unable to contribute to the conservation of additional reserve. Inflows to Lake Eildon and Dartmouth Reservoir are contributing to the reserves in the Goulburn and Murray systems for the 2011/12 season, however, these must be completed before any low-reliability water shares can be allocated.
All northern systems have an allocation of at least 100% for high-reliability shares for the first time since 2001/02.
Wimmera Mallee Supply System
The Wimmera Irrigation Association is continuing to negotiate a sale of the irrigation entitlement to the Commonwealth Government. After consulting the Wimmera Irrigators and Diversions Committee, GWMWater has deferred the irrigation channel run this season until the outcome of the proposed sale is known. GWMWater has not delivered irrigation supplies for around 10 years.
Coliban Rural System
Coliban Water announced a 70% allocation for the 2010/11 season for the Coliban Rural System on 15 September. This is the highest allocation on the Coliban Rural System since 2002/03. However, there is little demand for water in the rural system given the wet conditions.
Southern Rural Water
Macalister Irrigation District (MID)
Allocations are expected to increase in the coming months as Lake Glenmaggie was higher than normal for January.
The volume delivered under spill entitlement to 15 December 2010 was equal to approximately 32% of the district’s entitlement.
Latrobe System
The power stations’ shares of Blue Rock Lake were all close to 100% of capacity at the end of the month. The unused SECV share was at 100% of capacity and the unallocated share was at 88% because of releases through the Blue Rock hydro-power station. The irrigators’ share was at 79%.
There is enough water in the system to supply power stations, industry and towns in the Latrobe Valley for the next 12 months if conditions were dry.
Werribee Basin
SRW’s share of the Werribee storages was at 89% of capacity at the end of January.
Southern Rural Water announced a 20% increase for the allocation against low-reliability water shares (now at 45%) on 25 January. The allocation for high-reliability shares is 100%. A year ago allocations were 10% of high-reliability shares.
The wet conditions have reduced demand in the two irrigation districts considerably. SRW does not expect irrigators to substantially use their allocations by the end of the year and the starting allocation for 2011/12 is likely to be high compared to recent years.
SRW has implemented a new reserve policy in 2010/11 that will support starting allocations in 2011/12. To date, the equivalent of about 45% allocation against HRWS has been set aside for next year.
As a result of the improved conditions and allocations, the Werribee irrigators’ strong reliance on recycled water has been eased this season.
Maribyrnong Basin
Storage levels in Rosslynne Reservoir saw a significant increase during January, finishing the month at 66.6% of capacity. This time last year, Rosslynne Reservoir held just 4.9%.
SRW’s waterway diverters on Jackson Creek can access 50% of licensed volume, while Melbourne Water’s licence holders in the Keilor region continue to access unregulated flows downstream of Rosslynne Reservoir.