Water allocations subject of review

The new Murray-Darling Basin Inspector General of Water Compliance is looking into complaints that Murray and Murrumbidgee irrigators are not getting a fair share of water allocations.

The Inspector-General of Water Compliance Troy Grant has received multiple representations from stakeholders in the NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee regions seeking greater transparency for water allocation determinations.

“What is clear is that NSW water allocations are a long-standing area of concern,” Mr Grant said.

He cautioned against thinking there was a quick fix or that simple changes could be made immediately.

NSW irrigators have complained that while the Murray storages are high, their current general security allocations are only 30 per cent.

Mr Grant said his office was four weeks into a new era of water compliance in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“My compliance priorities in the first year are very clear: We are checking on metering reform, assessing the effectiveness of water agencies and taking a good look at groundwater compliance with sustainable limits,” he said.

“Allocation issues are symbolic of a range of stakeholders’ concerns in the NSW Murray region. As such, I have already commissioned various pieces of work to systemically assess the effectiveness and performance of state and Commonwealth water agencies.”

The Office of the InspectorGeneral of Water Compliance has three major reviews under way:

• A review into the operation of the Murray and lower Darling rivers will look into some of the key drivers of allocation decisions. These include how well water is being measured and modelled at both the basin and valley scale for conveyance losses and bulk state water shares.

A review of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s processes for planning, managing and delivering environmental water each year.

A detailed analysis of each basin jurisdiction’s water compliance systems is being undertaken by Des Pearson, the former Victorian Auditor-General.

* New South Wales Water is reporting that Menindee Lakes was filled at the weekend.