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Allocations
Current allocations are as follows:
| Zone | Allocation | 1 year ago | +/- per cent |
Murrumbidgee | |||
High Security | 95 pc | 95 pc | Same |
General Security | 37 pc | 35 pc | + 2 pc |
NSW Murray (Zones 10 & 11) | |||
High Security | 97 pc | 97 pc | Same |
General Security | 55 pc | 43 pc | + 8 pc |
Lachlan | |||
High Security | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
General Security | 0 pc | 0 pc | Same |
Vic Murray (Zones 6 & 7) | 80 pc | 94 pc | - 14 pc |
SA Murray | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer (all zones) | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
Lower Murray Deep Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
Lower Lachlan Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
In addition, various enhancements/member benefits have been announced for Irrigation Authority customers. Please contact your Water Authority for terms, conditions and further details.
Supplementary Events
River Operations
WaterNSW has advised that airspace pre-releases are continuing from Blowering Dam. The releases are being managed to keep flows within channel constraints in the Tumut River at Tumut with a target maximum flow of 9,300 megaliters per day (ML/d). Translucent flows at Burrinjuck Dam continue with triggers being met within the Murrumbidgee Regulated River Water Sharing Plan. The plan provides that translucent releases be made between 22 April and 21 October each year. To determine the percentage of inflow that must be released, catchment conditions, daily inflows and storage volumes are taken into consideration. Customers and river users should take necessary steps to adjust their pumping activities accordingly and monitor river levels closely.
Trade Restrictions
MURRUMBIDGEE/MURRAY IVT
Is open in both directions with the capacity for 17.1 gigalitres of Murrumbidgee to Murray trade and 82.9 gigalitres of Murray to Murrumbidgee trade.
It is unknown how long the IVT will remain open both ways and will depend on where the Murray and Murrumbidgee markets settle over the coming days.
BARMAH CHOKE
Is closed.
INTERSTATE TRADING
On 26 June, the Department of Planning and Environment and Water announced a temporary restriction on interstate water trades into the NSW Murray, Lower Darling and Murrumbidgee regulated river water sources.
These restrictions will commence on 1 July 2023 and extend to 31 August 2023, unless repealed earlier. The order may be repealed earlier if NSW storage levels are reduced enough to create airspace to safely receive traded water. With Upper Murray storages effectively full, this temporary trade restriction is required to mitigate the risk that water traded from Victoria or South Australia to NSW water access licence holders will spill from storage.
Storages
According to the Bureau of Meterorology (BOM), storage levels are currently as follows:
| Current | 7 Days | 30 Days | 1 Year | |
| Murrumbidgee | 91.8 pc | - 0.5 pc | + 2.4 pc | - 1.1 pc |
| Blowering | 91.8 pc | - 1.3 pc | + 1.1 pc | - 4.5 pc |
| Burrinjuck | 91.8 pc | + 0.9 pc | + 4.6 pc | + 3.9 pc |
| Murray | 94.9 pc | NIL | + 2.7 pc | + 4.9 pc |
| Hume | 95.4 pc | - 0.4 pc | + 4.2 pc | + 3.1 pc |
| Dartmouth | 97.3 pc | + 0.3 pc | + 0.2 pc | + 2.2 pc |
| Lachlan | 97.8 pc | + 1.2 pc | + 2.3 pc | - 1.6 pc |
| Wyangala | 97.7 pc | + 1.3 pc | + 2.4 pc | - 3.0 pc |
Current Temporary Market
Markets are currently very slow, but indicative pricing is as follows:
| Zone | Buyers | Sellers | Last Trade |
| Murrumbidgee | $85 | $90 | $90 |
| NSW Murray 10 (Above Choke) | $45 | $60 | $45 |
| NSW Murray 11 (Below Choke) | $85 | $85 | $85 |
| Vic Murray 6 (Above Choke) | $80 | $85 | $80 |
| Vic Murray 7 (Above Choke) | $95 | $85 | $95 |
| SA Murray | $90 | $85 | $90 |
| Lachaln | - | - | - |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 1 | - | - | - |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 2 | - | - | - |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 3 | - | - | - |
| Lower Murray Groundwater | - | - | - |
| Lower Lachlan Groundwater | - | - | - |
Current Permanent Market
| Zone | Price per mL |
| Murrumbidgee | |
| High Security | $8,800 to $9,000 |
| General Security | $2,100 to $2,200 |
| Supplementary | $800 to $850 |
| NSW Murray Above Choke (Zone 10) | |
| High Security | $8,000 to $8,100 |
| General Security | $1,650 to $1,700 |
| NSW Murray Below Choke (Zone 11) | |
| High Security | $9,150 to $9,300 |
| General Security | $2,700 to $2,800 |
| VIC Murray Above Choke (Zone 6) | |
| High Security | $5,000 to $5,100 |
| General Security | $950 to $1,000 |
| VIC Murray Below Choke (Zone 7) | |
| High Security | $7,850 to $7,950 |
| General Security | $1,900 to $2,000 |
| SA Murray Class 3 | $8,300 to $8,400 |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer (zone dependent) | $3,800 to $4,500 |
| Lachlan (Upper & Lower) | |
| High Security | $1,500 to $1,600 |
| General Security | $4,500 to $4,550 |
| Lower Murray Deep Groundwater | $2,700 to $2,800 |
| Lower Lachlan Groundwater | $3,500 to $4,000 |
Seasonal Outlook
The BOM released an updated outlook on 6 July. The full outlook can be viewed by clicking here but, in summary:
- For August to October, below median rainfall is likely for most of Australia.
- For August to October, above median maximum temperatures are very likely for almost all of Australia.
- For August to October, minimum temperatures are likely to very likely to be above median for almost all of Australia.
This forecast is influenced by a number of factors, including likely El Niño development, the potential development of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, and record warm oceans globally.
For more information contact your local water broker.
Meet the author
This update was prepared by Daisy Armstrong. Daisy is a Water Broker based at Elders Griffith. She commenced with Elders in May 2020 although she has been water broking since 2013.
She grew up on an irrigation property in the New South Wales Riverina and holds a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University.
Daisy is a member of the Australian Water Brokers Association and specialises in Murrumbidgee, New South Wales Murray and Lachlan trading zones.
The information contained in this article is given for the purpose of providing general information only, and while Elders has exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence in its preparation, many factors (including environmental and seasonal) can impact its accuracy and currency. Accordingly, the information should not be relied upon under any circumstances and Elders assumes no liability for any loss consequently suffered. If you would like to speak to someone for tailored advice relating to any of the matters referred to in this article, please contact Elders.