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Irrigation demand across all systems remains relatively low due to the continuing rainfall.  The final allocation announcement for the northern Victorian systems was made on 1 April, with no changes to current allocations. In southern Victoria, Southern Rural Water announced a 5% increase for low-reliability shares for the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts on 19 April.

Surface Water Irrigation Allocations across Northern Victorian

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW)

Allocations on all northern systems remained unchanged throughout April.  Demand during the month was low due to the wet conditions in northern Victoria.  The final allocation announcement for the 2010/11 season was made on 1 April.

All northern systems have an allocation of at least 100% for high-reliability shares for the first time since 2001/02.  Because of the 100% allocation for HRWS on all systems, allocation announcements have been made monthly instead of fortnightly since November.

Northern Victoria Seasonal Irrigation Outlook

Goulburn-Murray Water’s first outlook for the 2011-12 season was released on 15 February 2011 and is summarised below. This outlook will be updated on 16 May.

On 1 July 2011, a seasonal allocation is expected to be announced in both the Murray and Goulburn systems from the reserves set aside in recent months. With allocations likely to be made early in 2011/12, the channel systems will be available to deliver water from 15 August. Allocations in the Campaspe system are expected to be 100% of HRWS under all inflow scenarios on 1 July 2011. Under each inflow scenario, all systems would receive an allocation on Monday 15 August 2011.

There is likely to be an extremely high volume of unused allocation at the end of the 2010/11 season in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems given the record low deliveries this season. Victoria's share of Dartmouth Reservoir is likely to be above 60% of capacity, Lake Eildon is not expected to fall below 70%, and the volume in Lake Eppalock will remain close to full capacity. Based on current storage levels and expected operating conditions, the probability that Dartmouth Reservoir will spill in 2011/12 is low. However, there is a greater chance that Lake Eildon and Lake Eppalock will spill. It is too early for the Resource Manager to make a declaration about the availability of water in spillable water accounts in any system. An update will be provided with the next allocation outlook and the first formal assessment will be made at the start of the 2011/12 season.

Seasonal Irrigation Allocation Outlook 2011/12

Outlook for 1 July 2011

Inflow Conditions	Murray	Goulburn	Loddon	Campaspe	Broken
Wet	32%	47%	47%	100%	20%
Average	18%	36%	36%	100%	4%
Dry	4%	32%	32%	100%	0%

Outlook for 15 August 2011

Inflow Conditions	Murray	Goulburn	Loddon	Campaspe	Broken
Wet	40%	100%	100%	100%	32%
Average	32%	52%	52%	100%	24%
Dry	7%	38%	38%	100%	7%

Outlook for 17 October 2011

Inflow Conditions	Murray	Goulburn	Loddon	Campaspe	Broken
Wet	77%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Average	53%	92%	92%	100%	100%
Dry	36%	46%	46%	100%	36%

Outlook for 15 February 2012

Inflow Conditions	Murray	Goulburn	Loddon	Campaspe	Broken
Wet	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Average	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Dry	66%	64%	64%	100%	100%

 

Wimmera Mallee Supply System

GWMWater increased the irrigation allocation to 100% during February, however the irrigation channel run has been deferred this season, following consultation with the Wimmera Irrigators and Diversions Committee.  The Wimmera Irrigation Association is continuing to negotiate a sale of the irrigation entitlement to the Commonwealth Government, and the channel run has been deferred until the outcome of the 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)

There is a full allocation against high- and low-reliability water shares in the MID this season. Continued rainfall and low demand to date means the volume of water in Lake Glenmaggie remains very high for this time of year.  Southern Rural Water has commenced releases to mitigate downstream flooding risk over winter and spring.

The current storage position provides a platform for a very good season in 2011/12.

Latrobe System

The power stations’, GW’s and SRW’s shares of Blue Rock were at 100 per cent at the end of April.  There is enough water in the system to supply power stations, industry and towns in the Latrobe Valley for the next 12 months even if conditions are dry.

Licence holders downstream on the Latrobe and Tanjil Rivers are permitted to take up to their licence volume.

Werribee Basin

SRW’s share of the Werribee storages was at 85% of capacity at the end of April.

There is a 100% allocation for high-reliability shares, and a 55% allocation for low-reliability shares this season to date.  A year ago allocations were just 14% 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, which are expected to be as high as 80%. 

Maribyrnong Basin

Storage levels in Rosslynne Reservoir decreased slightly over April, finishing the month at 65.6% of capacity.  This time last year, Rosslynne Reservoir held just 4.5%.

SRW’s waterway diverters on Jackson Creek can now access 100% of licensed volume, while Melbourne Water’s licence holders in the Keilor region continue to access unregulated flows downstream of Rosslynne Reservoir.