The NSW Government
should announce an allocation for NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee General Security
entitlement holders on 1 June.
Ricegrowers’
Association of Australia (RGA) president, Rob Massina said “The RGA has written
to the NSW Minister for Water, the Hon. Melinda Pavey, MP calling for a 1 June
allocation announcement.”
Since the
last allocation on 15 May, 297 gigalitres (GL) have flowed into Murray River storages,
according to RGA calculations based on publicly available information.
Assuming inflows
continue to 31 May, the total is expected to be at least 380 GL. At the same
time, assumed tributary inflows have reduced river losses, reducing the need to
reserve as much in storage for this purpose.
Based on State
sharing arrangements, RGA estimates a 125 GL improvement in the share of NSW
Murray storages, equivalent to at least a 6% NSW Murray General Security allocation
increase.
While a 1
June allocation has never occurred previously, the RGA understands nothing is
stopping the NSW Government making the announcement. The MDBA water year finishes on 31 May, and the
NSW water year ends on 30 June. Therefore, all inflows before these dates
should be allocated
“General
Security entitlement holders should benefit from the recent resource
improvement in the NSW Murray system, given all other commitments have now been
met” said Mr Massina.
“Furthermore,
this water year has been highly unusual with the largest inflows occurring late
in the season. This alone should be incentive for the NSW Government to continue
making allocation announcements as late as possible in the water year.”
“For NSW
Murray growers, who until 15 May had been without an allocation for nearly two years,
a 1 June allocation would boost confidence to see through their winter cropping
programs, and start planning a much-needed rice crop to ensure Australian rice is
on supermarket shelves in 2021.”
“While Murrumbidgee
system inflows have not been as significant, RGA similarly urges the NSW
Government to allocate any increase in resource to General Security water
holders on 1 June.”
The RGA reiterates that our estimates above should not be
relied upon and are simply our best attempt to calculate the opportunity for an
allocation based on publicly available information.
“Should the
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) not make a 1 June
allocation, it needs to explain why an allocation is not justified” said Mr
Massina.