Irrigators urged to plan ahead

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Irrigators urged to plan ahead

Thursday 19 February, 2026

Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is encouraging customers to start considering their options after the Northern Victorian Resource Manager released the first 2026/27 seasonal outlook on 16 February 2026. The Resource Manager makes seasonal determinations for all northern Victorian regulated river systems including the Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe, Loddon, Bullarook and Murray regulated river systems.

The 2026/27 outlook shows storage levels across northern Victoria are at their lowest since 2020 after consecutive years of below-average inflows, with limited reserves available for seasonal determinations.

GMW General Manager Water Delivery Services Warren Blyth said conditions would be challenging if dry weather continued, but GMW was well placed to manage the season.

"This will be a tough year, but GMW has been planning for these conditions and has it under control," Mr Blyth said.

"We're working closely with the Resource Manager to operate our systems safely and efficiently, and to support customers to plan ahead."

Under current conditions, opening seasonal determinations in the Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems are expected to be low.

If inflows in 2026/27 are similar to those experienced this year, seasonal determinations could reach around 75 per cent in the Murray system and 50 per cent in the Goulburn system by mid-February 2027.

The Broken and Bullarook systems are likely to begin the season at zero per cent high-reliability water shares, with determinations dependent on catchment conditions and the amount of carried-over allocation.

Mr Blyth said seasonal determinations would continue to respond to weather and inflow conditions throughout the year, and that a return to average inflows could allow determinations to increase significantly during 2026/27.

"There is still uncertainty, and conditions can change," Mr Blyth said.

"That's why we're encouraging customers to factor the outlook into their planning now - for the remainder of 2025/26 and looking ahead to next season."

Customers are urged to consider options such as carryover and the risk of spill when managing their allocations, particularly in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems.

Mr Blyth said river systems could be operated differently in response to conditions.

This could include lower operating levels and potentially delivering flows as "pulses" to conserve water through the systems.

Operations would be planned with urban water corporations and catchment management authorities, as well as GMW customers.

"Our focus is on keeping systems operating safely, delivering water as efficiently as possible, and keeping customers informed every step of the way," Mr Blyth said.

"Water availability can change quickly - sometimes from one season to the next. That's why being prepared is essential."

The outlook scenarios for each system are available from the Northern Victorian Resource Manager website

www.nvrm.net.au/outlooks

More information and resources to support customers through changing seasonal conditions is available on GMW's website

www.gmwater.com.au

under "

Seasonal preparedness

".

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