Water Allocations Update - 15 December 2006

Goulburn-Murray Water announced today the 15 December allocation update for the 2006/07 irrigation season.

The allocation for the Goulburn system has increased to 24% of Water Right and Licensed Volume, a 1% increase. This slight increase was achieved by savings in distribution system losses and lower than planned releases at Goulburn Weir. The scheduled close of the season remains at 15 April 2007, and provides sufficient time to pump the necessary resource from Waranga Basin. The decision to allocate water to irrigation rather than further increase the season length aims to balance resource improvements between competing industry requirements. Savings made in November increased the season length by two weeks and the recent savings have contributed to the allocation.

The Murray system allocation is unchanged at 95% of Water Right and Licensed Volume. Future inflows will be used to manage the shortfall in Murray resources caused by the reduction of planned releases from the Snowy Hydro Scheme earlier this season.

The allocation for the Broken system has increased by 1% to be 66% of Licensed Volume. This improvement has come from savings produced by efficient river operations. The allocation will be reviewed, and will be reduced, if Lake Mokoan is closed by an outbreak of blue-green algae.

Bullarook Creek system customers supplied from Newlyn Reservoir have an unchanged allocation of 36%. Customers supplied from Hepburns Lagoon will not receive an allocation this season without significant rainfall and inflows.

Goulburn-Murray Water is identifying supply supplements and preparing emergency drought operation measures to meet domestic and stock requirements from the limited availability of water in the Campaspe and Loddon systems. Irrigation allocations for these systems are very unlikely this season.

The prospects for significant improvement in water resources across the Goulburn-Murray Water region remain very poor, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting slightly below average rainfall in its December 2006 to February 2007 outlook period.

The next allocation announcement is scheduled for Tuesday 2 January 2007.

The seasonal allocations for Goulburn-Murray Water irrigators at 15 December 2006 are: