Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) customers are being encouraged to consider their options for managing unused water with the end of the irrigation season fast approaching.
The 2025/26 irrigation season will end on Friday 15 May, with Sunday 10 May the last day customers can place water orders.
GMW General Manager Water Delivery Services Warren Blyth said there are several options available for customers who have unused water and want to make the most of their allocations.
“If customers aren’t planning to use their allocation before the end of the irrigation season, they have the option of selling this allocation, or, depending on the region they are in, carrying over their allocation,” he said.
“Carryover allows customers to keep some or all of their unused allocations for the next irrigation season.
“This option does not require customers to do anything so long as their allocation bank account fits the carryover rules.
“We want to ensure customers make the most of any allocation they have left and carrying over water is a fantastic way to do that.”
Customers with water shares in the Broken, Bullarook, Campaspe, Goulburn, Loddon and Murray systems can all carryover unused allocation, however, the rules between these systems vary.
For further details on carryover and the rules that apply to different systems, people can visit the GMW website: www.gmwater.com.au/endofseason
Customers can sell unused allocation regardless of the system they are in and can either find a buyer themselves or use a broker to do so.
The sale of unused water allocation must be completed by 5pm on 30 June 2026.
The Victorian Water Register’s carryover calculator is a helpful tool to understand how carryover rules work in northern Victoria and explore how carryover, spills and seasonal determinations affect the amount of water available against customers’ entitlements in different scenarios.
The calculator can be found on the Victorian Water Register website: https://www.waterregister.vic.gov.au/
Water entitlement holders on the Campaspe, Goulburn and Murray systems can opt to relinquish water that they do not wish to carryover.
Further details on relinquishing water are available on the GMW website: www.gmwater.com.au/relinquishing-allocation
For more information on options for unused water, phone GMW’s Customer Experience Team on 1800 013 357.
Customers who may want to use water for irrigation purposes during the irrigation off-season must apply for an Out of Season Agreement from GMW.
For more information, customers can phone GMW on 1800 013 357.