Operational Update - 27 May 2024

2024 End of season trade and your water allocation account

This is the second Operational Update on end of season trade including details to help manage your water allocation account.

2024 Season trade closure dates

• Friday 21 June, 5.00pm - Water Exchange (WEX) closes.
• Monday 24 June, 5.00pm - External transfers to / from Murray Irrigation close.
• Tuesday 25 June, 5.00pm - Internal transfers to / from Murray Irrigation landholdings close.
• Tuesday 25 June, 5.00pm - Customer Portal access closes.
• Monday 1 July, 7.00am - WEX and Customer Portal re-open.

Water Exchange closure - Unsold water

When the WEX closes on 21 June, any unsold water remaining on the Exchange is returned to relevant customer accounts in accordance with section 11 of the Water Exchange Terms and Conditions.

You can then decide how to manage your water balance to avoid forfeiture.

Options include: 

• Carryover,
• External transfers out of MIL to river licences or other valleys, or
• Internal transfers between your landholdings.

Barmah Choke Trade 1 July 2024

Murray Irrigation will accept applications on WaterNSW Barmah Choke trade forms from 9.00am on Thursday 27 June 2024.

This follows WaterNSW advice that it will accept Barmah Choke trade applications from 12.00pm on Friday 28 June 2023 and will enable our processing prior to this time on a WaterNSW Barmah Choke trading form. 

The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), which manages the Barmah Choke, advised on 16 May 2024 that the opening trade balance on 1 July 2024 will be approximately 56 gigalitres (GL) downstream of the Barmah Choke.

WaterNSW released a trade notification about Barmah Choke Trade on 26 March 2024, please click to read the WaterNSW Trade Notice.  

Please note that WaterNSW advises:

• If the application is unsuccessful, withdrawn or incomplete your fee will not be refunded.
• Please be aware that applications returned for amendment will lose their place in the queue in accordance with the new protocol.

View the WaterNSW Barmah Choke Application Protocol with the Victorian Government and its Barmah Choke Frequently Asked Questions for 1 July.  

More information from Water NSW is available here and from the MDBA here.

Casual usage charges 

To avoid casual usage fees, remember to check your 'DE Transfer Limit' available on your Customer Portal, Water Allocation page. If your DE transfer limit is negative, you can trade in or purchase annual delivery entitlements on the WEX prior to its closure.

Casual usage fees are applied to your quarterly invoice when the megalitre usage is greater than 120% of the annual delivery entitlements on your account. For more information on the tiered usage fees see the Schedule of Charges.

More information

Please read our first End of Season Trade Update sent on 30 April for more information on:

• Carryover rules
• Actions available via the Customer Portal
• Your Water Allocation Account.

Opening of 2024-25 Trade and Water Exchange

At 7.00am on Monday 1 July 2024, the WEX and Customer Portal will re-open.

You will then be able to purchase, sell, and transfer temporary water and delivery entitlements online via your Customer Portal.

Any allocation announced by the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) will be applied to your water allocation account following the announcement. 

Questions? 

For questions or for help using your Customer Portal or the Water Exchange, call us on 1300 138 265, or email us at customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au.