Mark Bailey said the risk of spill at Lake Eildon and at Lake Eppalock remained above the 10 per cent threshold needed for a declaration.
“The levels in Lake Eildon and Lake Eppalock are falling but both remain above 90 per cent capacity,” Dr Bailey said.
“Rain in early April has slowed the rate of fall at each storage.
“The risk of spill at Lake Eildon this season has increased to 70 per cent.
“The risk at Lake Eppalock is 45 per cent.”
Dr Bailey said low risk of spill declarations are unlikely before June 2024.
“Operations to manage water levels and resulting deductions from spillable water account balances are still possible in the Goulburn and Campaspe systems before June 2024,” he said.
“Any deductions needed before the end of the water year will be finalised on 10 June.
“The allocation still in spillable water accounts on that date will return to allocation accounts.
“Entitlement holders should factor returning spillable water allocation into their carryover planning for 2024-25.”
Dr Bailey said the risk of spill assessment referred to water accounting only and did not describe the chances of flooding.
Trading opportunities
Allocation trade from NSW to Victoria is limited to the lesser of a net annual volume of 200 Gl or a volume that keeps the risk of spill in Victoria’s share of both Hume and Dartmouth reservoirs below 50 per cent.
The 200 Gl of net trade from NSW to Victoria remains available. The volume available for trade is updated with each risk of spill announcement.
The risk of spill in the Goulburn and Campaspe systems in 2023-24 will be updated on Friday, May 10.
For information about the Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems, including seasonal determinations and resource availability, go to https://nvrm.net.au/
For information about Victorian shares of Murray storages, visit the Murray Darling Basin Authority website at: https://www.mdba.gov.au/
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