Goulburn-Murray Water Announces Allocations - 2 October 2006

Goulburn-Murray Water today announced the 2 October water allocation update for the 2006/07 irrigation season.

Extremely dry conditions have continued across northern Victoria during September, leading to further deterioration of water resources in the Goulburn-Murray Water area. Several storages have experienced record, or near record, low inflows during September.

The Goulburn system allocation is 21% of Water Right and Licensed Volume, an increase of 1% since 15 September. The allocation is based on Waranga Basin pumping and closure of the irrigation season on 1 April 2007. Extension of the season to the regular closure date of 15 May will be considered as the allocation approaches 30%.

Insufficient resources are available to provide an allocation for irrigation entitlements in the Campaspe and Loddon systems.

Bullarook Creek system customers supplied from Newlyn Reservoir have an allocation of 36% of Licensed Volume, an increase of 1%. Customers supplied from Hepburns Lagoon remain on 0% allocation.

With essentially zero inflows during the past fortnight, the Broken system allocation remains unchanged at 45% of Licensed Volume. Broken system customers are advised that in the event of a blue-green algae bloom in Lake Mokoan, this allocation will be reviewed and it is possible that the current allocation cannot be fully supplied. Customers are strongly urged to recognise this risk in their water plans for this season. Goulburn-Murray Water is acting to preserve Lake Nillahcootie resources ahead of the likelihood of a blue-green algae bloom and the consequent closure of Lake Mokoan this summer.

The seasonally adjusted chances of announcing a 100% allocation on 15 February 2007 are:

• Goulburn 1 chance in 10
• Broken 3 chances in 10
• Loddon 1 chance in 10
• Campaspe less than 1 chance in 10

October is traditionally the final month of the high inflow period for Goulburn-Murray Water storages. The October to December 2006 seasonal climate outlook issued by the Bureau of Meteorology suggests a shift towards drier than normal conditions across northern Victoria.

The allocation for the Murray system was not reviewed for this announcement, and remains at 93% of Water Right and Licensed Volume.

The next allocation announcement is scheduled for Monday 16 October 2006.

The seasonal allocations for Goulburn-Murray Water irrigators at 2 October 2006 are: