Goulburn-Murray Water announced today the 1 December allocation update for the 2006/07 irrigation season.
The Goulburn system allocation remains unchanged at 23% of Water Right and Licensed Volume. The scheduled end of the irrigation season is now 15 April 2007, with the 2 week extension made possible by savings in distribution system losses and lower than planned releases at Goulburn Weir. Goulburn-Murray Water will continue to target a season close date of 1 May 2006 as water becomes available from inflows and improved system operations.
The allocation for Broken system customers has increased by 3% to be 65% of Licensed Volume. The improvement was achieved by continuing efficient system operation and lower evaporation during November. Goulburn-Murray Water again reminds customers to recognise the likely reduction of allocations in the event of Lake Mokoan being closed by an outbreak of blue-green algae.
The allocation for Bullarook Creek system customers supplied from Newlyn Reservoir remains unchanged at 36%. Significant inflow is needed before any allocation can be announced for customers supplied from Hepburns Lagoon.
The seasonal outlook prepared by the Bureau of Meteorology expects slightly below average rainfall between December 2006 and February 2007. However, a significant improvement in seasonal allocations will require significantly greater than average rainfall.
Allocations for the Murray, Campaspe and Loddon systems were not reviewed for this announcement. The Murray system allocation remains at 95% of Water Right and Licensed Volume. Storage volumes in the Campaspe and Loddon systems have continued to fall since the last allocation announcement and Goulburn-Murray Water is preparing emergency drought operation measures to meet domestic and stock requirements in these systems until inflows increase significantly.
The next allocation announcement is scheduled for Friday 15 December 2006.
The seasonal allocations for Goulburn-Murray Water irrigators at 1 December 2006 are:
|
Irrigation Systems
|
Water Right
|
Sales
|
Increase
|
|
|
|
(as a % of WR)
|
|
|
Murray
|
|
|
|
|
- gravity irrigation
|
95%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
- Nyah & Tresco
|
95%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
- Woorinen
|
95%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Goulburn
|
23%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Campaspe
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private Diverters
|
Licensed Volume
|
Sales
|
Increase
|
|
|
|
(as a % of LV)
|
|
|
Murray River
|
95%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Mitta Mitta River
|
95%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Kiewa River
|
95%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Broken River
|
|
|
|
|
- u/s of Casey's Weir
|
65%
|
0%
|
3%
|
|
- d/s of Casey's Weir
|
65%
|
0%
|
3%
|
|
(incl Broken Ck & Lake Mokoan)
|
|
|
|
|
Goulburn River
|
23%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Campaspe River
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Bullarook Creek:
|
|
|
|
|
- Newlyn
|
36%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
- Hepburns
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Loddon River
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|