Goulburn-Murray Water has reassured Victorian Murray system water users that they are not affected by a further cutback in the allocation for NSW Murray water users this season.
Goulburn-Murray Water has made the reassurance following an announcement earlier today by the NSW Minister for Natural Resources that the water allocation for NSW Murray water users has been cut back by a further 32%.
Chief Executive Russell Cooper said that Victoria has a different allocation policy to NSW and the current 95% allocation for the Murray system remains unchanged.
"Victorian allocations aren't based on expected previous minimum inflows, and the current record low inflows into Hume and Dartmouth have not reduced our allocation," he said.
"In dry years we only plan allocations based on water in storage and a conservative estimate of water actually flowing in the catchment to the storages."
Goulburn-Murray Water staff recently met with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission in Canberra where they were advised that the Snowy Hydro Scheme is also experiencing record low inflows, which will result in a reduction in planned releases to the Murray from the scheme.
Mr Cooper said this reduction in releases has resulted in a relatively small shortfall in water resources required for Victorian users, but assured customers that this shortfall can be managed.
"All future improvements in resources are being targeted at covering this minor shortfall in resources and we have no plans to reduce the allocation for Victorian water users," he said.
"We will be looking to manage the system tightly to reduce water losses, and we expect that future inflows not yet included in the allocation, even at the current low levels, will be enough to cover the shortfall.
"However, there is unlikely to be any increase in the Murray system allocation unless there is significant rain and run-off into water storages."
Mr Cooper said Goulburn-Murray Water is continually monitoring the water resources on the Murray system and will keep customers informed on the situation as the irrigation season progresses.
"I can assure our customers that our priority is to deliver the announced allocation and we will advise of any developments in this situation."