Gary Hare, mixed irrigator from Tullakool, was able to sum up the importance of irrigation water to food production in one photo. Recycling water from the previous year’s rice crop to pre-irrigate using approximately 2.5ML/ha, the contrast was dramatic to say the least.
NSW Murray, Victorian Murray and Goulburn have both hit 100% allocations. The news is a welcome relief to farmers. Despite the increase in allocation, water prices remain firm.
Victorian Resource Manager, Dr Mark Bailey, said, “The sustained flows into the Murray system have provided enough resource to repay all of the borrowed Barmah-Millewa Forest environmental water allocation and announce the 100% allocation.
“There are also further deductions from Murray spillable water accounts. About 165GL, or 61% of the current spillable account volume, will be deducted with today’s announcement.
“Further deductions should be expected while the Murray-Darling Basin Authority maintains pre-releases to keep Lake Hume close to its full supply level.”
In Victoria, the Murray spillable accounts reflect the volume of water resource that has exceeded 100% when considering carryover plus allocation. For example, if a licence holder carryover 100% and new season allocations reach above 5% (the volume accounted for evaporation), all additional allocation percentage volumes are quarantined in a Murray spillable water account and partially/fully returned when the Murray Resource Manager deems it appropriate.
At present, the Goulburn needs another 600GL for a low reliability water share allocation.
NSW General Security moved from 55% to 100%, reported as 110% when factoring in carryover. There has been 1,107,159ML allocated to General Security and 734,390ML carried over into this year.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 21 October 2021.
