Latest water update

 

Welcome to the first Elders Water Market Update for the 2024/25 season, for the week beginning 1 July 2024.

Opening allocations are as follows:

MURRUMBIDGEE 

  • 95 percent (pc) for high security entitlements
  • 28 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 30 pc)

NSW MURRAY 

  • 97 pc for high security entitlements
  • 35 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 50 pc)

NSW LOWER DARLING 

  • 100 pc for high security entitlements
  • 100 pc for general security entitlements
  • 100 pc for towns, domestic and stock access licences
  • Full allocations for supplementary access licences
  • Carryover in accounts has been replaced by full allocations

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
  • Full general security carryover (estimated to be 109 pc)
  • The trigger is set for the reset of accounts on spillage from a full system as it is now more than six months since the last reset occurred.

VICTORIAN MURRAY 

  • 63 pc for high reliability entitlements
  • 0pc for low reliability entitlements

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MURRAY 

  • 100 pc of entitlement for all licence categories
  • With the opening allocation being greater than 50 pc, carryover of allocations from 2022/23 will not be available in 2023/24.

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

Comparatively to 12 months ago, allocations are as follows: 

 Zone  Allocation 1 year ago  +/- per cent 

Murrumbidgee

   

High Security

95 pc95 pcSame

General Security

28 pc37 pc- 9 pc

NSW Murray (Zones 10 & 11)

   

 High Security

97 pc97 pcSame

General Security

35 pc55 pc- 20 pc

Lachlan

   

High Security

100 pc100 pcSame

General Security

0 pc0 pcSame

Vic Murray (Zones 6 & 7)

   

High Reliability

63 pc80 pc- 17 pc

Low Reliability

0 pc0 pcSame

SA Murray
 
100 pc100 pcSame

Murrumbidgee Deep Groundwater

100 pc100 pcSame

Lower Murray Deep Groundwater

100 pc100 pcSame

Lower Lachlan Groundwater

100 pc100 pcSame

Trade Restrictions

MURRUMBIDGEE/MURRAY IVT
Is CLOSED for Murrumbidgee to Murray trade, but OPEN for Murray to Murrumbidgee trade with a balance of 87.7 gigalitres (GL).

BARMAH CHOKE 
Is currently at 33,616.6 megalitres (ML), after opening at 56,038.7 ML. It is expected that this balance will be filled quickly, likely before the end of the day.

Storages

According to the Bureau of Meterorology (BOM), storage levels are currently as follows:

  Current 1 Day  7 Days  30 Days  1 Year 
Murrumbidgee 74.0 pcNIL+ 0.2 pc+ 4.1 pc- 18.2 pc
Blowering73.8 pc NIL+ 0.7 pc+ 3.8 pc- 19.7 pc
Burrinjuck74.4 pc+ 0.1 pc+ 0.6 pc+ 4.7 pc- 16.3 pc
Murray80.3 pcNIL+ 0.1 pc+ 2.8 pc- 14.6 pc
Hume65.6 pcNIL+ 0.4 pc+ 4.5 pc- 30.2 pc
Dartmouth94.3 pc+ 0.1 pc+ 0.1 pc+ 0.2 pc- 2.2 pc
Lachlan 95.2 pcNIL- 2.0 pc
+ 0.6 pc- 1.3 pc
Wyangala95.1 pc- 0.4 pc- 2.8 pc+ 0.4 pc- 1.2 pc

Current Temporary Market

It is too early to indicated where temporary markets will open. It will likely take a few days for markets to settle at a firm price point. Please give us a call if you would like to place a buy or sell order. 

Current Permanent Market 

Indicative pricing is as follows, noting some markets have been skewed by the Government buybacks last year, and have not yet corrected now that the Government is out of those markets: 

 Zone  Price per mL 
Murrumbidgee 
High Security$8,300 to $8,400
General Security$2,400 to $2,500
Supplementary$800 to $850
NSW Murray Above Choke (Zone 10) 
High Security$7,400 to $7,500
General Security$1,600 to $1,650
NSW Murray Below Choke (Zone 11) 
High Security$8,500 to $8,650
General Security$2,400 to $2,600
VIC Murray Above Choke (Zone 6) 
High Security$4,400 to $4,500
General Security$800 to $875
VIC Murray Below Choke (Zone 7) 
High Security$6.000 to $6,500
General Security$1,900 to $2,000
SA Murray Class 3$6,500 to $7,000
Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer (zone dependent)$3,800 to $4,200
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 27 June. The full outlook can be viewed by clicking here but, in summary: 

  • While recent conditions in the east have been dry and cool for the last month, for July to September:
    • warmer than average days and nights are very likely across Australia, with an increased chance of unusually warm days and nights
    • rainfall is likely to be within the typical range for the season for eastern, northern and western Australia
    • above average rainfall is likely for central parts of Australia and isolated parts of southern coastal NSW, but below average for parts of Tasmania.

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.

Meet the author

Daisy Armstrong

Water Broker
  • Elders Griffith

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