Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer

An ongoing reduction in permanent entitlements being held in a Riverland irrigation trust’s district has forced changes to its water accounting.

Central Irrigation Trust (CIT) customers were informed in June that all water accounts would now need to be balanced at the end of each month.

This change requires irrigators to ensure enough water allocation is held on their accounts to offset water use during the month.

CIT CEO Greg McCarron said an increasing disparity between permanent water entitlements held within the area and annual water use volumes meant the change was necessary.

“CIT advised its irrigation members in June… that as from July 1, 2025, they would be required to balance their water accounts monthly,” Mr McCarron said.

“This means that they must ensure they hold enough water allocation on their water accounts to offset any water use during the month.

“The CIT Board made this change after considering a range of factors increasing risks for individual irrigators and Irrigation Trusts in balancing their water accounts. A significant factor was the continuing reduction of permanent water entitlement held within CIT, which is now well below annual water use volumes.

“As a result, CIT irrigators are increasingly reliant on the availability of water allocation on the temporary market. Increased reliance on the allocation market and exposure to the fluctuations in water allocation availability and price meant changes in how water accounts are managed was required.”

It is understood CIT account payments will remain on a quarterly basis.

Mr McCarron said examining what water market options were available, and best suited to their needs, would benefit individual irrigators.

“CIT will support customers with increased availability to information through its web-based customer portal, telemetry system, linked water account balancing and through the CIT Water Exchange,” he said.

“Transitioning to monthly water account balancing may require some growers to review their current practices and they have a range of water market options available to choose from.

“CIT will monitor the transition closely and remain flexible to address any unforeseen challenges.

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 6 August 2025.