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Irrigators to carry over unused allocations

27 January 2009

South Australian irrigators will be able to carry-over all of their allocations not used in 2008-09 into the 2009-10 water year.

Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald says this includes water previously carried forward from 2007-08 that remains unused at 30th June 2009.

"Licensed water users will be able to carry forward all of their unused restricted water allocation as at June 30th for use next water year, which will assist them to better manage the limited water available," Minister Maywald says.

"As in previous years, the government is confident carry-over can be supplied, although an absolute guarantee cannot be given because its provision depends on climatic conditions and the ability to deliver it from interstate storages to South Australia.

"Water carried over into 2009-10 will be tradeable within South Australia and interstate."

Carry-over application forms must be lodged on or before February 27th, 2009, with the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. Late forms will not be accepted.

Applications must nominate the expected volume of water that will be unused at June 30th, 2009. This will determine the total volume of water to be held in upstream storages for delivery in 2009-10.

"Irrigators must carefully consider the volume of water that is likely to be unused for 2008-09 because the volume applied for cannot be adjusted after February 27th," Minister Maywald says.

"Licence holders can purchase extra water to carry-over for use in 2009-10, but this volume of water must be included in the carry-over application to be submitted on or before February 27th."

"Applicants for carry-over will be advised in writing of their carry-over allocation in early July 2009, after the final meter reading for 2008-09."

A licence holder cannot apply to carry-over water granted under the Critical Water Allocation scheme for the survival of permanent plantings that has not been used in 2008-09.

Other purposes of water use excluded from accessing carry-over water during 2009-10 are:

  • urban water supply - metropolitan Adelaide.
  • water taken for stock or domestic purposes.
  • industrial purposes.
  • environmental or wetland management purposes.

For further information about carry-over, contact DWLBC on 8595 2053.