Goulburn and Murray irrigation systems have been allocated slightly more water in the latest seasonal determinations issued by the northern Victorian resource manager.

The movement is largely theoretical, as the irrigation season doesn’t start for most irrigators until August 15.

The Murray system seasonal determination increases from 39 per cent of high-reliability water shares to 40 per cent HRWS.

The Goulburn and Loddon systems increases from 31 per cent to 33 per cent HRWS.

The Campaspe system remains at 100 per cent HRWS. The Broken and Bullarook systems both remain unchanged at zero per cent HRWS.

Resource manager Mark Bailey said the improvements came from small storage inflow increases.

“The flows into the major storages for the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems were slightly higher than our estimates, which provided additional water to allocate,” Dr Bailey said.

“The flows into the Broken and Bullarook storages were not enough to increase seasonal determination in those systems.

“More rainfall is needed over the coming months to increase storages levels and seasonal determinations across all systems.”

Under average inflow conditions, the Murray system will start on August 15 with about 57 per cent HRWS, and the Goulburn, about 46 per cent HRWS.

Eildon is currently holding 57 per cent of its capacity, and Dartmouth is at 66 per cent of capacity.

In the NSW Murray district, no allocation is available for general security classes of water, however high security holders have received 100 per cent allocation as of July 1.

The general security account balance is about 531 Gl.

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Wednesday, 2nd August 2023

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