Murray water allocations slowly rise to 35 per cent on Victorian system
Low rainfall run-off lifts Murray irrigators’ allocations to just 35 per cent.
VICTORIAN Murray irrigators’ allocations have crept up 35 per cent, while those on the Goulburn and Loddon systems rose to 44 per cent.
Resource Manager for Northern Victoria Andrew Shields said flows into the major storages have been variable in recent weeks.
“The catchments remain relatively wet but more rainfall during spring is needed to increase the volume of water available,” Mr Shields said.
“The latest Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook indicates below-average rainfall across all of northern Victoria is more likely during the October to December period.”
Meanwhile NSW general security allocations remain at 6 per cent on the Murrumbidgee and zero on the Murray.
WaterNSW reported scattered intermittent rainfall had contributed little to Murrumbidgee resources.
“About 100 gigalitres of inflow was received during August 2019, which represents
less than one-third of the long-term median inflow,” WaterNSW reported.
“Conditions for the valley have been dry and are forecast to remain hot and dry which will reduce the chance of resource improvements for the remainder of the year.”
On the NSW Murray system water managers warned they were still well short of their conveyance water commitment of 165,000 megalitres needed to cover delivery losses, before any general security allocations can be made.
“The latest improvement has enabled allocation to Conveyance entitlement to increase by 10,000ML and is currently at 80,000ML toward its 165,000ML target,” WaterNSW reported.
DARTMOUTH DAM is at 59 per capacity, holding 2,270,000 ML.
HUME DAM is at 43 per capacity, holding 1,280,000ML.
LAKE VICTORIA is at 85 per cent capacity, holding 575,000ML.
EILDON DAM is at 48 per cent capacity — holding 1,599,470ML
BLOWERING DAM is at 55 per cent capacity, holding 914,000ML.
BURRINJUCK DAM is at 33 per cent capacity, holding 339,000ML.
MENINDEE LAKES is below 1 per cent capacity, holding just 13,650ML.
NSW water deal backfires
A deal brokered by the NSW Government with some of the Murray Darling Basin’s largest irrigation corporations has short-changed the environment of the nation’s most precious resource.
Water trade’s tech battle
Corporate irrigators and their water brokers are using high-speed broadband and sophisticated software to beat the mob on lucrative inter-valley trades.