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Irrigation allocations increase

16 January 2009

River Murray irrigation allocations will increase from 15% to 18% from February 1 following a slight improvement in the volume of water available to South Australia.

Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald says the extra 20 gigalitres available to South Australia - on top of the volume to be reserved for critical human needs for 2009-10 - will be used to increase irrigation allocations.

"This increase in irrigation allocations will provide additional water during summer to both permanent and annual crops," Minister Maywald says.

"Inflows into the River Murray system still remain extremely low - since June 2008 to the end of December 2008 the total inflow was only 1,590 GL, compared with 1,798 GL for the same period last year and the long-term average of 7,613 GL.

"River Murray inflows in December 2008 were only 172 GL, compared with 214 GL in December 2007. The long-term average for December is 422 GL.

"The prospect of any significant improvement in River Murray water resources over summer remains low.

"The total volume of water in storage in Hume and Dartmouth Reservoirs, Lake Victoria and Menindee Lakes is currently 2,082 GL (22% capacity), well below the long-term average for this time of year of 6,330 GL (67% capacity)."

While salinity levels have remained fairly low above Lock 1, low water levels below Lock 1 have resulted in higher salinity levels.

Allocation updates will continue to be issued on the 15th of each month and information on water resource conditions will be available on the 1st of each month, or the first business day following if either day falls on a weekend.

The South Australian Government is currently in dispute with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (formerly the MDB Commission) regarding the former Commission's calculation of imbalances owed by South Australia for the 2008-09 water year.

"We welcome last week's announcement that an independent review of the account is underway. That initial outcome will be provided in February," Minister Maywald says.

For more information about conditions in the River Murray or wider Murray-Darling Basin: www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/