Irrigation Allocations - September 2006
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Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW)
Water allocations for the 2006/2007 season were updated by Goulburn Murray Water on 2 October 2006. Exceptionally dry conditions have continued across northern Victoria during September and several storages have experienced record, or near record, low inflows during September.
A small increase in the allocation for the Goulburn system was made possible by allowing for pumping from the Waranga Basin and the early closure of the irrigation season on 1 April 2007. Current allocations are as follows:
- Goulburn system: 21% of water right and licence volume (increase of 4%)
- Murray system: 93% of water right and licence volume (increase of 8%)
- Campaspe system: 0% of water right and licence volume (no change)
- Loddon system: 0% of licence volume (no change)
- Broken system: 45% of licence volume (no change)
- Bullarook Ck system:
- Newlyn Reservoir 36% of licence volume (increase of 2%)
- Hepburns Lagoon 0% of licence volume (no change).
In the event of a blue-green algae bloom in Lake Mokoan, the allocation for Broken customers will be reviewed, and it is possible that the current allocation cannot be fully supplied.
The seasonally adjusted chances of receiving a 100% allocation by February 2007 are as follows:
- Goulburn 1 chance in 10;
- Campaspe less than 1 chance in 10;
- Loddon 1 chance in 10;
- Broken 3 chances in 10.
The next allocation announcement will be on Monday 16 October 2006.
Wimmera Mallee Domestic and Stock Supply System
Storages in the Wimmera Mallee domestic and stock supply system finished the month at 6.6% of capacity (compared with 9% at the same time last year).
The region is facing an extremely serious water supply situation. The winter channel run from the Grampians system is well advanced and is only filling town storages. Enough water is being supplied to these storages to provide emergency supplies for cartage to some 2,300 properties for basic domestic purposes.
A water cartage program is being implemented, with Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWMW) proposing to deliver 28,000 L of water for domestic use every second month to rural customers not receiving a house dam fill. This service will commence once existing house dam supplies become unusable. The purchase of water tanks to hold supplies is eligible for up to a $3,000 rebate from the Victorian Government.
Additional water will also be available to GWMW rural customers, including those who receive a house dam fill, for stock watering and crop spraying. Water will be provided at no cost, but carting arrangements and costs will be the customer’s responsibility.
Water will also be available at a cost of $1.20/kL under a permit system for carting by others (at their own cost) who are not customers of GWMW for domestic use only.
The supply limitations are being reflected in other supplies across the region dependent on Grampians storages. Supplies to all customer groups are being made available in accordance with the restriction schedule contained in the Wimmera-Glenelg Bulk Entitlements.
Restrictions are as follows:
- towns are on Stage 4 restrictions;
- irrigation supplies are again zero;
- no supply is available for irrigation diversions on the Wimmera River;
- supply to recreation lakes has been nil since 2000;
- commercial supplies to major customers (eg the Iluka mine at Douglas, are limited to 6%).
Southern Rural Water
Lake Glenmaggie, the principal source of water for Thomson-Macalister Irrigation District, was at 37.3% of capacity at the end of the month. This is the lowest storage figure recorded in the last 30 years for this time of year. The irrigation allocation remains at 35%. Future improvements in allocations will be dependent on the extent of inflows.
Water availability on the Latrobe system remains good, with Blue Rock Lake being at 82.8% of capacity. An allocation of 100% has been announced for license holders downstream on the Latrobe and Tanjil Rivers.
Southern Rural Water’s share of Werribee Basin storages was at 13.8% of capacity at the end of the month (compared with 42% at the same time last year). Because of the low storage situation, allocations for the 2006/2007 season remain the same as the opening allocations – i.e. 0% for the Bacchus Marsh irrigation area and 5% for the Werribee Irrigation Area. Recycled water is available to supplement supplies for participating growers in the Werribee area.
Bacchus Marsh irrigators have been assisted by the installation of a connection from Western Water’s “Merrimu to Bacchus Marsh pipeline” which enables spare capacity to be used to bring water from SRW’s entitlement in Merrimu Reservoir into the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District. Any improvements in allocations will be totally dependent on future inflows. At this stage, full stock and domestic entitlements are available in Werribee, but only 10% in Bacchus Marsh.
Water levels in the Deutgam Groundwater Management Area have been declining through 2005/2006. In order to protect the resource from seawater intrusion, allocations for the 2006/2007 season are at 25% of licensed volume.
Rosslynne Reservoir remains low at 6.7% of capacity. The allocation for SRW diverters on Jacksons Creek is 5%. With inflows well below average, SRW diverters face another season with very low allocations.