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Surface Water Irrigation Allocations across Northern Victorian

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW)

On 1 September, G-MW increased HRWS allocations from 78% to 87% on the Goulburn and Loddon systems; from 50% to 61% on the Murray system; and, from 34% to 36% on the Broken system. The LRWS allocation on the Campaspe system increased from 54% to 91%. The Bullarook system allocation has been 100% for both HRWS and LRWS since 15 July, as this is the maximum allocation there will be no further increases this season.

In the second announcement on 15 September, allocation for HRWS was increased to 69% on the Murray, 39% on the Broken, and 95% on the Goulburn and Loddon systems. 

On 12 September, the Northern Victoria Resource Manager confirmed that the risk of spill in the Goulburn and Campaspe systems remains high, therefore, at this stage water held in spillable water accounts cannot be made available to customers. The next risk of spill announcement will be made on 10 October.

Northern Victoria Seasonal Irrigation Outlook

On 15 September 2011, Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) updated the seasonal allocation outlook for the 2011/12 season.  The outlooks for 2011/12 allocations are based on observed inflows in seasons following similar winter-spring inflows.

The Campaspe and Bullarook systems have already reached full allocations for high-reliability water shares (HRWS), and the Bullarook system also has a 100% LRWS allocation; in the Campaspe system, the allocation against low-reliability water shares is expected to reach 100% this season.

The Goulburn and Loddon systems are expected to reach 100% HRWS allocation by the end of October.

Even under continuing dry conditions, the allocations in the Broken and Murray system are expected to reach 100% HRWS by mid-December.

Allocations against LRWS in the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems will depend on prevailing weather conditions. An allocation of LRWS in the Broken system is expected, with the timing dependent on seasonal conditions.

To view the latest outlook click here.

Wimmera Mallee Supply System

The Wimmera Irrigation Association is continuing to negotiate a sale of the irrigation entitlement to the Commonwealth Government, and irrigation channel runs are 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 an opening Rural System allocation of 100% for 2011/12 on 15 September 2011. This is the first time in 10 years that the Rural System has opened at 100% allocation.

Southern Rural Water

Macalister Irrigation District (MID)

Demand has remained low for the beginning of the 2011/12 season.  Lake Glenmaggie remains at a high level for this time of year, and Southern Rural Water have lowered the storage to mitigate downstream flooding risk over spring, with a target to ensure the storage is filled before the commencement of the late-spring and summer period.

The allocation for the MID remains at 90% for HRWS, this is the highest possible allocation during the spilling season. Spill entitlement has been made available to river diverters until 15 October.  The current allocation will be reviewed following the end of the spilling period on 15 December.

Latrobe System

The power stations’, GW’s and SRW’s shares of Blue Rock were at 100 per cent at the end of September.  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 90% of capacity at the end of September.

Allocations against LRWS were increased to 20% during September. 

Maribyrnong Basin

Storage levels in Rosslynne Reservoir increased by approximately 600 ML during September, finishing the month at 71% of capacity.

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