Groundwater Allocations

A number of groundwater management areas have allocations of less than 100% of licenced entitlement. There are a many reasons for this:

These systems have licenced entitlements allocated that are greater than long terms sustainable yields;
If all entitlement was extracted in these areas then groundwater levels would fall, increasing pumping costs; causing bores to dry up and compromising access to Domestic and Stock bores; and potential long term irreversible salinity impacts.
Seasonal allocationsallow the resource to be shared between all users in proportion to theirlicence volume which has been viewed by irrigator based committees as the fairest method to manage limited use;
Seasonal allocations recognise the social and environmental costs of lowering groundwater levels.

The management and allocation of groundwater is governed by the rules set in the relevant groundwater management plan. Goulburn-Murray Water is required to maintain allocations within the limits set in plan.

2009/10 Irrigation Season Allocations

Zone	Groundwater Management Area	Zone Name	Allocation*	Data Announced
1001	Spring Hill	Mollongghip Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1002	Spring Hill	Blampied Zone	100%	05/02/ 2010
1003	Spring Hill	Forrest Hill Zone	50%	09/09/ 2009
1004	Spring Hill	Smeaton Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1008	Upper Loddon	Ascot Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1009	Upper Loddon	Waubra Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1010	Upper Loddon	Moolort Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1011	Mid Loddon	Moolort Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1012	Mid Loddon	Highland Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1013	Mid Loddon	Bridgewater Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1014	Mid Loddon	Bullabul Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1015	Mid Loddon	Pompapiel-Yarrayne Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1016	Mid Loddon	Serpentine Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1017	Mid Loddon	Northern Irrigation Zone	100%	09/09/ 2009
1021	Campaspe	Echuca Zone	65% Allocation	10/3/2010
1022	Campaspe	Lockington-Bamawn Zone	65% Allocation	10/3/2010
1023	Campaspe	Rochester East Zone	65% Allocation	10/3/2010
1024	Campaspe	Rochester West Zone	65% Allocation	10/3/2010
1025	Campaspe	Elmore Zone	65% Allocation	10/3/2010
1026	Southern Campaspe Plains	Upper Campaspe Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1027	Southern Campaspe Plains	Upper Bendigo Creek Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1061	Katunga	North Western Dryland (Bearii)	70% Allocation	29/07/2009
1062	Katunga	Numurkah-Nathalia Zone	70% Allocation	29/07/2009
1063	Katunga	Cobram Zone	70% Allocation	29/07/2009
1070	Mid Goulburn	Shepparton Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1071	Mid Goulburn		100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1075	King Lake		100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1078	Alexandra		100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1080	Lower Ovens	Ovens and King River Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1081	Lower Ovens	Highland Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1085	Upper Ovens	Bright Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1090	Barnawatha		100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1095	Kiewa	Tangambalanga Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
1096	Kiewa	Mt Beauty Zone	100% Allocation	1/7/2008
NON	Non GMA		100% Allocation	1/7/2008

*Allocation is the percentage of licenced entitlement that can be used in a season.

Allocation Dates

Allocation dates for each of the groundwater management areas are set to allow maximum recovery time of aquifers to ensure that allocations are set at an optimum level.

Allocations are announced in accordance with the relevant groundwater management plan.

Campaspe Deep Lead

Campaspe Deep Lead allocations are based on spring groundwater recovery levels. Allocations are announced on 15 August each year in accordance with the Campaspe Groundwater Management Plan. These allocations are reviewed in November of each year.

Spring Hill

Spring Hill groundwater allocations are made in early September based on August groundwater level reading and reviewed in November based on spring groundwater recovery levels.

Katunga

Katunga groundwater allocations are announced once on 1 August of each year.

Click here to access Groundwater Management Plans for the areas mentioned above.