Resource Name:
The River Murray Prescribed Watercourse
SDL resource unit:
South Australian Murray (SS11)
Priority or reliability:
Highest Reliability (Critical Human Water Needs)
Form of take:
Take from a regulated river
Total volume of the class on issue:
Fees and charges:
A natural resource management water levy is payable in respect of a class 2 water access entitlement. Details on current rates can be accessed on the the Department for Environment and Water website.
Historic reliability of the class:
Historically, class 2 water access entitlement holders have generally received a 100% allocation if South Australia's full state entitlement flow has been received.
Since the 2007–08 water use year, water allocations have been prioritised against classes of water access entitlement deemed to be for critical human water needs (CHWN) purposes, which includes class 2. Water access entitlements deemed to be for CHWN are currently considered the highest priority water use in accordance with South Australia's River Murray Water Allocation Framework and the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (South Australia).
The annual water allocation announcement percentages for this class as reported at the end of the water use year since 2009–10 are:
- 2009–10 = 62%
- 2010–11 = 62%
- 2011–12 = 100%
- 2012–13 = 100%
- 2013–14 = 100%
- 2014–15 = 100%
- 2015–16 = 100%
- 2016–17 = 100%
Carryover arrangements:
Private carryover is not available for water allocations against class 2 water access entitlements.
Timing and manner of making allocation announcements:
Pursuant to section 146(4) of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (South Australia) the minister will from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, determine the volume of water that is to be made available from a consumptive pool for allocation.
A water allocation made in respect of a class 2 water access entitlement will relate to a period specified by the minister not exceeding 12 months. The minister makes a water allocation announcement at the commencement of each water use year. The minister may subsequently vary a water allocation during a water use year. In doing so, the minister may take into account any principles for review of water allocations contained in the annual River Murray Water Allocation Framework.
Information on current water allocations, water allocation media releases and the River Murray Water Allocation Framework can be accessed on the Department for Environment and Water website.
How allocation levels are determined:
The maximum volume of water that can be made available for allocation on account of a class 2 water access entitlement is 1 kilolitre per unit share. Water access entitlement holders are likely to receive a 100% allocation if South Australia's full state entitlement flow of 1,850 GL is received.
The River Murray Water Allocation Framework is used to determine how water available to South Australia will be shared between the different consumptive uses, including irrigation and other entitlement holders, the environment and CHWN. The Allocation Framework applies to South Australia's 1,850 GL entitlement flow only and excludes any other required flow to South Australia. Other required flow includes River Murray Unregulated Flow, extra dilution flows, water rights that are traded into South Australia, and deliveries of deferred water.
The River Murray Water Allocation Framework can be located on the Department for Environment and Water website.
Areas to which this water access right may be traded:
Subject to any restriction on intrastate or interstate trade, a water access entitlement or water allocation may be transferred anywhere within the South Australian River Murray Prescribed Watercourse. A water access entitlement or water allocation may also be transferred interstate to the areas or zones permitted under the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement (Schedule D – Permissible Transfers between Trading Zones) Protocol 2010.
The Protocol provides that a water access entitlement and/or water allocation may be transferred to the following trading zones from the South Australian Murray (includes River Murray in South Australia and Trust districts): Trading Zone 6, 7, 10, 11 and back trade only to Trading Zone 1, 3, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6B, 13, 14. The 3 cap valleys to which water entitlements and water allocations may be transferred are:
- South Australian Country Towns
- South Australian Reclaimed Swamps, and
- South Australian All Other Purposes.
For a graphical representation, refer to the southern connected Interstate Water Trading Zones Map and to the Trading Zones Table.
Areas from which water access rights may be traded:
The Murray–Darling Basin Agreement (Schedule D – Permissible Transfers between Trading Zones) Protocol 2010 provides that a water access entitlement and/or water allocation may be transferred from the following trading zones to the South Australian Murray (includes River Murray in South Australia and Trust districts): Trading Zone 1, 3, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6B, 7, 11, 13, and back trade only from trading zones 6 and 10 subject to the trading rules applicable to trade across the Barmah Choke.
For a graphical representation please refer to the southern connected Interstate Water Trading Zones Map and to the Trading Zones Table.
