Allocation Updates Announced (15 October 2007)

Allocation Updates Announced

An increased allocation and season extension for the Goulburn system was announced by Goulburn‑Murray Water today. Increased seasonal allocations were also announced for the Murray, Broken and Campaspe systems. The seasonal allocations in all other systems remained unchanged.

The seasonal allocation in the Goulburn system is 26% of high-reliability water shares, an increase of 3%. The gravity irrigation season has been extended to 15 May 2008. With the season now closing on the customary date of 15 May, all future resource improvements in the Goulburn system will be assigned towards increasing the seasonal allocation.

Continued modest inflows in the Murray system allowed the seasonal allocation to increase by 2% to be 18% of high-reliability water shares.

The seasonal allocation for the Broken system has increased by 3% to 18% of high-reliability water shares. Broken system customers now have continuous access to water ordered for irrigation until 30 November 2007. Access after 30 November will be rostered to maximise water use efficiency, and the allocation will be reviewed and possibly reduced if Lake Mokoan is closed by an outbreak of blue-green algae.

The Loddon system seasonal allocation of 5% of high-reliability water shares is unchanged. Customers will have continuous access to water ordered for irrigation until 31 October 2007, and rostered access during one week in every four weeks from 1 November 2007 onwards.

Campaspe system customers have a seasonal allocation of 2% of high-reliability water shares, an increase of 1%. All irrigation orders will be rostered to minimise losses and support efficient operations.

Volumes held in the Bullarook Creek system storages remain insufficient to satisfy qualified rights for the rest of the season. Providing access to all qualified rights for customers is the immediate priority ahead of a bridging seasonal allocation.

The winter and spring inflow trends indicate significant resource improvement is now very unlikely for any system this season. The most optimistic 15 February 2007 seasonal allocations are approximately:

• 43% of high-reliability water shares in the Goulburn system
• 27% of high-reliability water shares in the Murray system

The seasonal allocations for Goulburn-Murray Water customers on Monday 15 October 2007 are:

The next allocation announcement will be made on Thursday 1 November 2007.

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Media Contact:       Alex Marshall

Position:                   Executive Manager Planning and Environment

Telephone:               03 5833 5670