Irrigation reaches unprecedented levels

Monday 28 October, 2024

The 2024/25 irrigation season is just over a third of the way through but is already looking likely to be one of the busiest in recent memory.

In the first three months on the irrigation season – which began on 15 August – Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) has delivered 373,000 ML of water, well over twice the average for this stage of the season.

Water Delivery Services General Manager Warren Blyth said the high demand was due to a culmination of factors.

“We have come off a few very wet years, which has meant our dams have been well-stocked and water availability has been high,” he said.

“However, a dry winter meant we received far more orders in the first weeks of the irrigation season than we would usually expect, and so far, the spring rains have also been minimal.”

Highlighting this is the inflows into GMW’s major storages during September.

Lake Eildon received 84,500 ML of water, about a third of its usual inflows for the month. The demand for water downstream of the lake has subsequently meant the lake’s levels have been falling during a time of year it would usually be rising.

Even more pronounced have been the reduced inflows into Lake Eppalock.

Throughout September, only 2300 ML flowed into the lake, less than 10 per cent of the September average.

Contrastingly, in a single day during the October 2022 floods, Lake Eppalock received 132,000 ML of inflows, meaning during September 2024, inflows to the lake were less than five per cent of what they were during a 24-hour period in October 2022.

“It highlights the extremes of our climate and the importance of planning for such extremes,” Mr Blyth said.

“At GMW, we are currently preparing for what could be a very busy autumn, which is when irrigation demand usually peaks.

“We encourage irrigators to do the same. When irrigation demand approaches channel capacity, water orders invariably take longer to be delivered.

“People should therefore be mindful that if they order water during the busiest time of the season, they could potentially face delays in receiving their order.”

Irrigators with questions about their water orders or delivery shares are encouraged to contact their water planner on 1300 468 469.