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What is a bulk entitlement?
A bulk entitlement is a legal right to take and use water granted under the Water Act 1989.
Who can hold a bulk entitlement?
Bulk entitlements can be held by water corporations, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder and other specified bodies defined in section 34 of the Act.
What rights and responsibilities are granted under a bulk entitlement?
In accordance with the section 43 of the Act, bulk entitlements may specify a range of conditions and obligations on its holder, including:
- rules about when, where and how much water can be taken
- rules about how the water can be used
- rules about the right to a share of storage capacity and share of inflows
- obligations to release flows for environmental uses
- obligations to supply primary entitlement holders
- obligations to contribute to the payment of operation and maintenance costs and
- obligations to meter, maintain accounts and report.
Where can I access bulk entitlement information?
Bulk entitlement orders are available on the Victorian Water Register.
How are bulk entitlements created?
The Minister for Water can issue bulk entitlements under the Act in 2 ways:
- Conversion of a pre-existing right to water into a bulk entitlement (section 47) or granting a new bulk entitlement (section 43).
- A potential bulk entitlement holder must apply to the Minister for Water for the conversion or granting of a bulk entitlement. The Minister Water must consider any applications in accordance with the procedures specified in the Act.
Can bulk entitlements be amended?
Yes, under section 44 of the Act bulk entitlement holders can apply to the Minister for Water to amend an existing bulk entitlement.
Can bulk entitlements be traded?
Bulk entitlements may be transferred under section 46D of the Act, provided the holder has applied for and obtained approval from the Minister for Water.
Water allocation made available under bulk entitlements may also be assigned to another person under Section 46A of the Act in accordance with trading rules.
Applications to issue or amend a bulk entitlement
When the Minister for Water receives an application for a new bulk entitlement or to amend an existing bulk entitlement, the requirements set out in the Act are followed, including:
- applications are advertised on the Victorian Public Notices website and on this website
- depending on the nature of the proposal, the application process may involve consultation with stakeholders and local communities and submissions to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action or the applicant
- the purpose of this consultation is to identify the potential impacts of the proposal, including any adverse impacts on existing water users and the environment
- the Minister for Water will consider any submissions received before making a determination on the application and
- new bulk entitlements or amendments are granted through an order from the Minister for Water or the Governor in Council and published in the Victorian Government Gazette.
Recently approved applications
Potential water access for Latrobe mine rehabilitation
AGL, the Loy Yang mine licensee, applied to the Minister for Water to access surface water from the Latrobe River system for Loy Yang mine rehabilitation. The Minister has considered relevant information, including feedback received from two rounds of public consultation, and decided to approve AGL’s application and grant a new bulk entitlement to AGL.
The Minister for Water has set conditions on AGL’s new bulk entitlement that are consistent with Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy policy. The conditions align how much water AGL can take with climatic conditions, reducing water take during drier periods and peak irrigation demand, which will increase protection of flows and water quality in the Latrobe River system and reduce competition for water in peak demand periods. Additionally, the Minister has imposed a condition that requires AGL to make a water access payment of $230 per megalitre per year (2025 dollars with CPI applied).
AGL and Southern Rural Water also applied separately to amend existing Loy Yang power generation surface water entitlements to clarify exactly when electricity generation stops and when water can no longer be taken under these existing entitlements. The Minister has considered these separate applications and decided to approve them.
In addition to deciding on these applications, the Minister for Water has initiated a process to reduce the Latrobe River Basin Permissible Consumptive Volume (PCV or “cap”) by the difference between entitlement volumes for power generation and new bulk entitlements issued for mine rehabilitation. This amendment would safeguard the benefits resulting from the conditions on AGL’s new bulk entitlement for mine rehabilitation, by ensuring the cap reflects the more sustainable levels of water take and ensuring water use does not exceed what has been taken by power generators on average in recent decades.
Further details are available on Engage Victoria. Copies of the bulk entitlements are available on the Victorian Water Register.
Amendments to bulk entitlements in Northern Victorian declared systems
Goulburn-Murray Water pricing changes
The Minister for Water has approved applications under section 44 of the Water Act 1989 from 10 water corporations, being Goulburn-Murray Water, North East Water, Goulburn Valley Water, Coliban Water, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, Lower Murray Water, Central Highlands Water, Greater Western Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water.
The applications were to amend the bulk entitlements these water corporations hold in the Murray, Ovens, Broken, Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon, Bullarook declared water systems.
The amendments to the bulk entitlements support the introduction of a new Goulburn-Murray Water pricing structure for bulk water charges, which replaces the water basin charging structure with a two-water system pricing structure, as approved by the Essential Services Commission.
The amendments came into effect on 16 October 2025. View or download from the Victorian Water Register.
Page last updated: 23/12/25