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Irrigation allocations to increase to 5%

4 August 2009

River Murray irrigators in South Australia are now able to access 5% of their licensed water entitlement.

Acting Minister for the River Murray Paul Caica says the increase has been made possible by a 25-GL advance to South Australia and other Murray-Darling Basin states.

"This advance of water was negotiated under the special water sharing arrangements for 2009-10, specifically to support irrigators in all jurisdictions early in the season," Mr Caica says.

"This increase is good news for irrigators who have been limited to 2% of water entitlements since 1 July 2009.

"It is hoped conditions across the Murray-Darling Basin improve in coming months allowing water allocations to be further increased.

"Heavy rainfall in many parts of the Murray-Darling Basin in late June and early July has improved forecast River Murray system inflows for July.

'It is hoped that inflows for the month will be about 310 GL.

"However, this is still well below the long-term average July inflow of 1,190 GL.

"The current volume in Hume, Dartmouth, Menindee Lakes and Lake Victoria is 1,908 GL (20% capacity). This is well below the long-term average for the end of July of 6,445 GL (69% capacity)."

Mr Caica says licensed water users can still carry-over 100% of their unused restricted water allocation at 30 June 2009 for use in the next water year.

This carry-over will assist irrigators to better manage the limited water available, he says.