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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-04-12 Daily Xml
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Water Allocation Plans

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:23): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement on the River Murray water allocation announcement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: On Friday 8 April 2016, I made an announcement regarding River Murray water allocations for the 2016-17 water year. I confirmed that South Australian River Murray water access entitlement holders will find out their minimum opening allocation for the 2016-17 water year by 30 April 2016. In addition, I provided advice that current projections indicate that we expect a very dry inflow scenario and that this is what I will be using to inform a minimum starting allocation for 2016-17.

A very dry inflow scenario translates to maximum inflows to the South Australian River Murray of 1,310 gigalitres by June 2017, compared with 1,850 gigalitres in a full entitlement year. I also announced a revised River Murray private carryover policy. This policy is consistent with the policy in the draft River Murray water allocation plan and will now allow allocations traded from interstate to be factored into eligibility for carryover.

This policy will be formalised in the SA Government Gazette and posted on the DEWNR website. The private carryover will be available to eligible irrigators in 2016-17, based on basin storage levels and the low risk of spill. Provision of private carryover to irrigators in 2016-17 will be underwritten by approximately 60 gigalitres of water that is stored for this purpose in the Murray-Darling Basin Authority controlled storages.

Additional water beyond the 60 gigalitres can also be stored for carryover purposes if there is net trade of water allocation into the state for carryover purposes between now and the end of the water year. So that eligibility for allocation of carryover can be assessed, meter readings must be submitted pursuant to current licence conditions. Meter readings will need to be made by 31 July 2016, which is a Sunday this year, I am advised, but submissions can be made online.

This government wants to ensure River Murray water users are able to make early decisions and plan for predicted dry inflows. We want to provide entitlement holders certainty around allocations earlier and will make regular allocation announcements which take into account any improvements to water resources availability to allow water users to plan ahead.

The prediction of dry conditions for 2016-17 is a stark reminder of the importance of delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full and on time, including the agreed return of 3,200 gigalitres equivalent. I will continue to fight to ensure basin jurisdictions meet their obligations under the plan. The final announcement of the actual opening water allocations will be made by 1 July 2016. More information is available at www.environment.sa.gov.au.

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