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Seasonal Determinations Policy

Seasonal determinations are the means for sharing available water between individual entitlement holders each year.

GMW is appointed by the Minister for Water under section 64GA of the Act to be responsible for making seasonal determinations under section 64GB in respect of the Murray, Broken, Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon, Bullarook and Ovens declared water systems.

1. Objective

This Policy is the framework to ensure that GMW:

Distributes water resources according to the Act and relevant bulk and environmental entitlements;
Computes transparent and equitable seasonal determinations; and
Minimises the risk that allocation cannot be delivered while maximising allocation availability within a particular season.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to bulk entitlements, environmental entitlement and high-reliability and low-reliability water shares in the following systems:

Murray
Broken
Goulburn
Campaspe
Loddon
Bullarook

3. Policy

Seasonal determinations are the means for sharing available water between individual entitlement holders each year.

The seasonal determinations policy matches the volume of water available to entitlement holders with the volume of water assessed to be available for allocation over the planning period.

Seasonal determinations are announced only when all other system commitments are met. These commitments include river and distribution system operating requirements, carried over unused allocation, operating rules defined in bulk entitlements and environmental entitlements, and any qualified rights which may apply from time to time.

The aim of seasonal determinations is to advise entitlement holders of the water available for use as early as possible, subject to consideration of risk and long-term reliability of supply.

4. Responsibilities

Responsibilities table
Responsibility	Who
Approval	Board
Endorsement	Managing Director
Ownership	General Manager Water Delivery Services
Implementation	Manager Water Resources

5. Definitions

Act

Act means the Water Act 1989.

GMW

GMW means Goulburn-Murray Water.

Irrigation Season

Irrigation Season means

The operating period for the GMW channel distribution system, which is usually 15 August to 15 May;
The operating period for GMW and Lower Murray Water private diverters, which is 1 July to 30 June; and
The operating period for Lower Murray Water irrigation districts, which is in accordance with published pumping schedules for each district.

Season

Season means the 12 months commencing 1 July.