WATER users’ rights to take water from the Murray and Loddon rivers during the event of a shortfall has been given new protection by a State Government framework.
A shortfall occurs when water that is entitled cannot be delivered when and where it is needed. This can result in temporary restrictions on the amount of water users are permitted to take.
Victorian Water Minister Harriet Shing said the new Place of Take framework sought to address the increasing delivery risks in the Murray River system downstream of Barmah, where the Barmah Choke is reducing in capacity and demand is making it harder to deliver water where and when people need it.
Since 2019, all works-licence applications in the Murray system downstream of Barmah were referred to the water minister.
Since then, no new extraction share has been issued within the region.
Ms Shing said the changes announced made extraction share – the river diverters’ right to a share of water available in a shortfall – an “enduring right”.
Previously extraction share was attached to a works licence which expired every five to 15 years.
In systems with the highest shortfall risk – the Murray downstream of Barmah and the Ovens-King system – extraction-share volumes have been capped to protect existing rights.
“These changes give water users greater certainty about their right to have water delivered as well as more flexibility to manage their own delivery risks,” Ms Shing said.
The new framework also included stronger penalties for non-compliance under the new rules.
Depending on the extent of the non-compliance, private landholders can be fined up to $230,000 and $1.15 million for a corporation.
“Stronger penalties will protect water users and the environment from the impacts of others taking more than their fair share during a shortfall when restrictions are in place,” Ms Shing said.
