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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. There were no changes to allocations in southern Victorian systems during May.

Surface Water Irrigation Allocations across Northern Victorian

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW)

On 1 July 2011, a seasonal allocation is expected to be announced for high-reliability water shares (HRWS) in all systems, under all inflow conditions.  With allocations early in 2011/12 likely, the channel networks will be available to deliver water from 15 August in the Murray and Goulburn systems.

The Campaspe system is anticipated to open the 2011/12 season with a 100% allocation for HRWS, and a 100% allocation for low-reliability water shares (LRWS) is expected under all but the driest scenarios. Allocations against LRWS are also expected in the Broken system, with the timing dependent on seasonal conditions.

Allocations against LRWS in the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems are possible during 2011/12, however, the magnitude and timing will depend on the prevailing seasonal conditions.

Demand in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems during 2010/11 has been exceptionally low. This has kept storage levels high throughout much of the season. Lake Eppalock is currently above 97% of capacity, Lake Eildon is at 84% and Victoria's share of Dartmouth Reservoir is approximately 65% of capacity. Based on current conditions, the probability that Dartmouth Reservoir will spill in 2011/12 is low, but there is a higher potential for Lake Eildon and Lake Eppalock to spill. Under a continuation of current conditions, it is likely that a declaration of low spill probability will be made for the Murray system on 1 July 2011, but a declaration for the Goulburn and Campaspe systems will most likely occur later in the season.

A definitive comment on spill declarations for 2011/12 will be made on 1 July 2011, when G-MW announces the opening seasonal allocations.

High Reliability Allocation Outlook 2011/12 at 15 May

Outlook for 1 July 2011

Inflow Conditions	Murray	Goulburn	Loddon	Campaspe	Broken
Wet	47%	68%	68%	100%	18%
Average	43%	48%	48%	100%	18%
Dry	40%	43%	43%	100%	18%

Outlook for 15 August 2011

Inflow Conditions	Murray	Goulburn	Loddon	Campaspe	Broken
Wet	61%	100%	100%	100%	22%
Average	49%	80%	80%	100%	22%
Dry	44%	53%	53%	100%	22%

Outlook for 17 October 2011

Inflow Conditions	Murray	Goulburn	Loddon	Campaspe	Broken
Wet	100%	100%	100%	100%	41%
Average	83%	100%	100%	100%	41%
Dry	67%	74%	74%	100%	41%

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%	96%	96%	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 May.  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 May.

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 May, finishing the month at 65.5% of capacity.  This time last year, Rosslynne Reservoir held just 4.4%.

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.