Improved conditions across much of the state have not translated to improved water allocations for irrigators in most valleys at the opening of the 2020/2021 water year.
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The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) stating a large portion of recent rainfall has occurred downstream of major storages and did not lead to significant inflows to most dams.
For the third year in a row an opening allocation of zero per cent has been announced for NSW Murray general security water.
Lachlan general security water also opened on zero per cent for the fourth consecutive year and restrictions on carryover use have been extended.
There has been little improvement for high security water entitlement holders in the Peel, Namoi and Lachlan rivers, who for the second time in a row are starting the new water year without a full allocation.
While, the high security allocation for the Hunter has also been reduced this year, to 90 per cent.
Three groundwater sources around the state have been restricted due to valley-wide extraction limits being exceeded.
Lower Murrumbidgee (Deep) groundwater users will receive an allocation of only 65 per cent, a change from the 100 per cent which had been relied on in previous years.
While, Upper Namoi Zone 3 (Breeza to Gunnedah) groundwater users have had their allocation cut to 88 per cent and the Eastern Recharge groundwater users have received a 25 per cent allocation.
A temporary water restriction order will be also be issued for the Upper Lachlan Alluvial Zone 1 groundwater, with irrigators only allowed access to 30 per cent of their water entitlement share.
In better news, general security Murrumbidgee surface water opened at 10 per cent, up from a three per cent opening allocation in 2019/2020.
As a result of significant inflows since February, temporary water restrictions for Macquarie general security carryover have been lifted.
And Lower Darling general security water users have been issued a 30 per cent allocation, with the Menindee Lakes System now 28 per cent full.
The DPIE stated on their website that Lower Darling users are on 30 per cent while Murray irrigators remain on zero because it is not until the Menindee system exceeds 640 gigalitres (37 per cent full) that it becomes a shared Murray resource under the Murray Darling Basin Agreement.
The DPIE issue the opening allocations on July 1, the first day of the water year.