Irrigation rationing expected soon in King Valley as water dries up
THE first Victorian irrigators are only weeks away from restrictions.
VICTORIAN irrigators are only weeks away from restrictions.
About 200 farmers in North East Victoria’s rich King Valley are likely to start rationing next month.
After a boom season, the rain has stopped and inflows to the region’s main storages have fallen to record low levels.
This comes as hopes slip further away for Murray irrigators accessing low-reliability allocations this year.
Authorities say even with the return of average rain for the rest of the year, the prospects for being able to supply the second tier allocation are virtually gone.
Cattle stud owner Malcolm Carson said October inflows into the King Valley’s main two storages at William Hovell and Buffalo were about 20 per cent of average.
Mr Carson, who chairs Goulburn-Murray Water’s water services committee in the region, said the area “was definitely heading into a drought” after a good autumn break and wet winter.
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