Sellers wanting to participate in the tender have been contacting their water brokers to ask for assistance in submitting their tenders.
The buyback has been strongly opposed by water lobby groups and community organisations, because of the concern that water being used for productive agriculture will be stripped from the region.
The government has not indicated the price it is willing to pay for the water from the Victorian and NSW Murray and Ovens districts.
Some brokers are suggesting a figure around 25 per cent above the current price for permanent water which has been selling for between $4000/Ml and $7000/Ml, depending on the zone.
Water Partners general manager Donna Mulcahy said she expected there to be some interest in the tenders as farmers work out what will be in their best interests.
Sellers don’t have to engage professional help, but some are using water brokers, who can charge a flat fee or commission.
Kyabram-based Water Partners has decided not to charge commission, but use a flat fee to assist with the sales.
Ms Mulcahy said there had been a lot of talk about the merits of the buyback in recent months, so the opening of the tender was no surprise.
Whether the government could achieve the 70 Gl may depend on what they are prepared to pay.
Tenders close on September 11.
Meanwhile, the National Irrigators Council is calling on the Federal Government for answers, as they continue to pursue additional water purchases when water usage is well below the Murray-Darling Basin Plan limits.
National Irrigators’ Council chief executive officer Zara Lowien said the recently released data from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority confirms the core objectives of the basin plan are being achieved with water take 23 per cent below the basin plan limit.
“Usage around the basin is well below the required limits and that’s even before the Federal Government acquires more water via buybacks this year,” Mrs Lowien said.
"Buybacks were a tool to reduce usage to meet these new Sustainable Diversion Limits and provide water for the environment.
“The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder cannot use all the water it has already, and now with Sustainable Diversion Limits achieved, it seems the Federal Government is just doing buybacks for the sake of it.
“With basin limits clearly being implemented, its time to genuinely focus on achieving environmental outcomes and not just buying water”.
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