SA Murray allocations open at 100 per cent
South Australian River Murray water users will start the 2023-24 financial year with 100 per cent of their allocation.
It is the third successive year that local irrigators have started the financial year with full allocations, and follows the largest flood event in more than 50 years.
The floods have provided much welcome benefits for SA’s floodplain and wetland environments from Chowilla in the Riverland, all the way across to the Coorong at the end of system.
The floods have also contributed to high River Murray system storages, with the total capacity of major storages at 27 June 2023 at 93 per cent - 25 per cent above the long-term average for the end of June.
The River Murray Water Allocation Plan was recently revised to improve access to private carryover in dry years. In accordance with the plan, carryover will not be available in 2023‑24, because the projected minimum opening allocation is greater than 50 per cent.
DEW Director of Water Security, Policy and Planning Dan Jordan said the full allocation helped irrigators to plan for the year ahead.
“This is much needed good news for the state’s irrigators following the devastation caused by the recent flooding,” he said.
"The SA Government will continue to support communities affected by floods though our grants programs and other initiatives.”
For more information, visit the Department for Environment and Water’s website and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority website.
