Irrigators in NSW have been greeted with mixed news today, with some areas in the north receiving 100pc of their allocation, while those in the parched southern half of the State have received nothing.
The NSW Department of Water and Energy has today announced its available water determinations for licensed water users for the commencement of the 2008-2009 water year.
David Harriss, deputy director general water management, said initial water allocations for many inland regions of the State are still critically low, while coastal catchments have faired much better at the start of the new water year.
"The worst drought in living memory is far from over for much of inland NSW - water availability in the southern and central Murray Darling Basin remains serious," Mr Harriss said.
"Across New South Wales total storage levels for State Water operated dams, excluding the Snowy, are just over 4 million megalitres – roughly 21pc of total capacity.
"The upper Murray and Murrumbidgee storages are at critically low levels - opening allocations for both general and high security irrigators in these valleys are zero with licensed water users relying on carryover or trade."
And the prospects of receiving good rainfall in these areas and elsewhere in the State in the immediate future have deteriorated with the Bureau of Meteorology indicating that La Nina is now neutral.
"As the autumn break in the weather failed to eventuate in the central and south-western portions of the State, additional water allocations in these areas are now dependent on rainfall and stream flows over the rest of winter," Mr Harriss said.
"The provision of stock and domestic water also remains an issue west of the range and cannot be guaranteed for all systems.
"There is enough water reserved to meet the critical human needs in towns for both the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys.
"Councils and Water Supply Authorities are asked to remain extremely conservative with all water use.
"If water availability remains low it can be expected that severe water restrictions will need to be implemented in the coming year."
In the Murrumbidgee, Murray and Lower Darling town water supplies, as well as licensed stock and domestic, will have an initial allocation of 50pc of entitlement.
Mr Harriss said that the north-west river valleys of the State had faired a little better over the preceding year with some useful inflows to storages particularly during the summer.
"The Border River, Gwydir River and Namoi River valleys have full allocations for town water supplies, high security, as well as stock and domestic water users," he said.
"All general security water users in these northern valleys will receive the benefit of general security carry over.
"Favourable conditions in the Peel River Valley will allow full allocations for town water supplies, high security, as well as stock and domestic water users.
"General security water users will receive 30pc as an opening allocation."
He said the central-west valleys of the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers were also subject to reduced initial allocations.
"In the Lachlan, local water utilities will receive 70pc of entitlement, while both stock and domestic and high security users will get 20pc and general security will open the water year with zero allocation.
"Water users in the Macquarie will fair a little better with full allocations to town water supplies, stock and domestic and high security users.
"However, general security will commence the year without an allocation."
The water outlook for coastal river valleys is much more positive following above-average rainfall and even severe flooding in several coastal areas since June 2007.
"Storages on the coast have generally shown an upward trend in total capacity over the last year which has allowed full allocations for water users in nearly all coastal areas.
"The irrigators in the Hunter Valley have been fortunate in recent months with good falls leading to improved storage capacities allowing full allocations for all licence classes following several years of reduced entitlement."
South Coast water users drawing from Brogo Dam will have 100pc allocation for town water supplies and high security, while general security will receive an initial entitlement of 40pc.
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