VEWH Offers Water on the Market

Article by: Hari Yellina

In the northern Victorian water market, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder is offering a small portion of its water allocation. From April 2022, irrigators and other water users will be able to purchase up to 12,000 megalitres of Murray allotment in zone seven (below the Barmah choke) through chosen brokers and online exchanges, assisting them with autumn watering and carryover planning. Dr. Sarina Loo, co-chief executive of the VEWH, stated that the VEWH’s most current demand-supply assessment revealed that all priority environmental watering initiatives can be completed this year. The VEWH has enough carryover and new allocations expected for 2022-23 to meet next year’s priority requests.

“We have supplied considerable amounts of water for the environment across northern Victoria this year, with the aid of our partners, to maximise the environmental advantages that come with wetter circumstances.” “Our northern rivers and wetlands, such as the Hattah Lakes, Barmah and Gunbower forests, the Kerang Lakes, and other wetlands, have shown outstanding benefits from our environmental watering over the last year.” “During the spring and summer, we’ve witnessed fantastic wetland and aquatic vegetation growth, which is vital habitat for water bugs, frogs, waterbirds, native fish, and a variety of other wildlife.” Water for the environment had also aided successful water-bird breeding events, and the VEWH was trying to improve native fish dissemination after a successful spring breeding season.

Dr. Loo said the sale was the first since autumn 2019 and came after a two-year period of increased water supply for all water consumers. In its annual trade strategy announced last year, the VEWH stated that it would consider selling water in northern Victoria. “We constantly manage our water to obtain the greatest potential results from what we have available to us, whether it’s use, carryover, or trade,” Dr Loo explained. “We monitor trading conditions in the water market to ensure that our trading has no significant negative impact on other market players, and we will continue to do so in the future months.” “Independent auditors performed a health check on our approach to the market and granted it a clean health check.” According to the VEWH’s statutory requirements, the proceeds from the sale of water will be used to improve the outcomes of environmental watering in Victoria.