Welcome to the Elders Water Market Update for the 2025/26 season, for the week beginning 6 July 2026.
Opening allocations
Murrumbidgee
- 95 per cent (pc) for high security entitlements
- 0 pc for general security entitlements
- 100 pc for towns, domestic and stock access licences
- Full allocations for supplementary (including Lowbidgee) access licences
- Full general security carryover (estimated to be <15 pc)
New South Wales Murray
- 97 pc for high security entitlements
- 0 pc for general security entitlements
- 100 pc for towns, domestic and stock access licences
- Full allocations for supplementary access licences
- Full general security carryover (estimated to be <25 pc)
Lachlan
- 100 pc for local water utility and stock and domestic access licences
- 100 pc for high security entitlements
- 0 pc for general security entitlements (to be reassessed on 8 July)
- Full general security carryover (estimated to be 59 pc)
Victorian Murray
- 29 pc for high reliability entitlements
- 0 pc for low reliability entitlements
Goulburn
- 15 pc for high reliability entitlements
- 0 pc for low reliability entitlements
South Australian Murray
- 83 pc of entitlement for all licence categories
- With the opening allocation being greater than 50 pc carryover of allocations from 2024/25 will not be available in 2025/26
Groundwater
- 100 pc of entitlement for Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer
- 100 pc of entitlement for Lower Lachlan Groundwater
- 100 pc of entitlement for Lower Murray Deep Groundwater
Allocations
Allocations are as follows:
| Zone | Allocation | 1 year ago | +/- per cent |
| Murrumbidgee | |||
| High Security | 95 pc | 95 pc | Same |
| General Security | 0 pc | 4 pc | -4 pc |
| NSW Murray (Zones 10 & 11) | |||
| High Security | 97 pc | 97 pc | Same |
| General Security | 0 pc | 1 pc | -1 pc |
| Lachlan | |||
| High Security | 29 pc | 39 pc | -10 pc |
| General Security0 | 0 pc | 0 pc | Same |
| Vic Murray (Zones 6 & 7) | |||
| High Reliability | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| Low Reliability | 0 pc | 0 pc | Same |
| SA Murray | 83 pc | 100 pc | -17 pc |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| Lower Murray Deep Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| Lower Lachlan Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
Trade Restrictions
MURRUMBIDGEE/MURRAY IVT
Is currently open for both Murrumbidgee to Murray and Murray to Murrumbidgee trade, with balances as follows:
- Murray to Murrumbidgee – 6.9GL
- Murrumbidgee to Murray – 93.1GL
Storages
According to the Bureau of Meterorology (BOM), storage levels are currently as follows:
| As at 9am | Current | 1 Day | 7 Days | 30 Days | 1 Year | |
| Murrumbidgee | 29 June 26 | 41.5 pc | NIL | +3 pc | +9.6 pc | -5.2 pc |
| Blowering | 28 June 26 | 41.3 pc | +0.7pc | +4.8 pc | 14.0 pc | -6.6 pc |
| Burrinjuck | 28 June 26 | 41.7 pc | NIL | +0.6 pc | +3.5 pc | -2.7 pc |
| Murray | 29 June 26 | 53.7 pc | NIL | +1.8 pc | +5.1 pc | NIL |
| Hume | 28 June 26 | 34.6 pc | +1.0 pc | +8.0 pc | +21.6 pc | -3.0 pc |
| Dartmouth | 28 June 26 | 66.5 pc | NIL | +0.3 pc | +2.0 pc | +0.1 pc |
| Lachlan | 29 June 26 | 62.9 pc | NIL | -0.2 pc | +1.0 pc | -16.8 pc |
| Wyangala | 28 June 26 | 62.2 pc | - 0.1pc | -0.2 pc | +1.0 pc | -17.2 pc |
Current Temporary Market
It is too early to indicated where temporary markets will open. It will likely take a couple of days for markets to settle at a firm price point.
Indicative pricing is as follows:
| Zone | Buyers | Sellers | Last trade | Trend |
| Murrumbidgee | - | $450 | - | - |
| NSW Murray 10 (Above Choke) | $280 | $400 | - | - |
| NSW Murray 11 (Below Choke) | - | $450 | - | - |
| Vic Murray 6 (Above Choke) | - | $600 | - | - |
| Vic Murray 7 (Above Choke) | - | $600 | - | - |
| SA Murray | - | $450 | - | - |
| Lachlan | - | - | - | - |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 3 | - | - | - | - |
| Lower Murray Groundwater | - | - | - | - |
| Lower Lachlan Groundwater | - | - | - | - |
Seasonal Outlook
The BOM released an updated outlook on 25 June. The full outlook can be viewed here but, in summary, the long-range forecast for July to September.
- Rainfall is likely to be below average across much of southern and eastern Australia.
- Daytime temperatures are likely to be above average south of the tropics.
- Overnight temperatures are likely to be above average for much of Australia.
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.
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