Opening allocations likely to be low, but there are promising signs for the season ahead
As drought conditions ease along the Murray-Darling Basin, irrigators are hopeful of decent allocations this season.
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South Australian irrigators are braced for low opening water allocations but are bullish promising inflows and forecasts can lead to a good season.
Water storage levels are 6 per cent less than the same time last year, when allocations opened low, however the weather bureau is predicting above average rainfall for the next three months and River Murray inflows are on track to surpass last season’s.
Last year’s allocations opened at 31 per cent in July, rising to 100 per cent by November. Environment and Water Department River Murray water delivery manager Jarrod Eaton warned this year’s opening figure could be low as current storage volumes were at 2665GL or 29 per cent capacity, compared to 3230GL or 35 per cent capacity last year.
But while storages are less, inflows are looking promising.
He said River Murray inflows for the 2018-19 water season were 2775GL for the entire year, but so far this year, inflows were sitting at 2745GL, only 30GL less but with two months more to go.
“The (weather) bureau is indicating through their rainfall outlook for April to June that the chances of exceeding median rainfall have substantially improved,” he said.
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The strongest flows in the Darling River since August 2018 are due to reach the Murray in coming weeks.
Walker Flat potato and onion grower Aaron Haby is hopeful for the season ahead.
“We’ve been pretty blessed, we’ve already had half of last year’s rainfall in the first three months of this year,” he said.
“I’m pretty confident this will be a reasonable year for growing produce.”