Historically it takes six weeks before a change in the resource pool triggers a change that will flow through into allocations.
From October 1 to 15 there was a 200 Gl increase in the resource pool, an increase that started to occur six weeks prior and was not allocated.
Once NSW Murray general security allocation hits 60 per cent we start to lose carryover as per the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Water Resource Plan.
The WRP caps productive water use at 1674 Gl plus 10 per cent carryover.
The extra 200 Gl flow into the resource pushed NSW Murray general security allocation above 67 per cent (67 + 43 per cent carryover equals 110), which then tipped carryover into the general security bucket.
With the Darling River again flowing after huge rains enabled water to escape the hunger of floodplain harvesters and the 1400 Gl of dam space in the north, to flow naturally through the floodplain system, the Darling River can once again contribute around 39 per cent of the 1850 Gl of annual flows to South Australia — freeing up water in Hume and Dartmouth to be allocated to both NSW and Victorian Murray allocations.
This reduces pressure on the Murray River because there is less conveyance and reduced losses because more water is kept in bank and less damage is inflicted on iconic Ramsar-listed sites like the Barmah Forest.
Continued high and unseasonal flows have caused more damage and erosion to the Murray River over the past decade than the past 100 years of river regulation.
The southern basin needs a connected river system and Southern Riverina Irrigators have been advocating heavily in this space.
We have pointed out discrepancies in allocation, the distortion and the continual erosion of NSW Murray general security and we will continue to do so.
We were once described as “loud people” and we will remain so, as we continue to fight to see a return of the water we are licensed and metered to receive.
Darcy Hare
vice-chairman
Southern Riverina Irrigators
11°C