Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville said the rules were designed to protect the long-term health of the lower Goulburn River while supporting irrigators’ access to water when they needed it.
Over recent years, there has been increased pressure on the Murray River and Goulburn River to deliver trade and environmental water, which has led to constant high flows in the Goulburn during summer.
These high flows prevent vegetation growth and fish breeding, and cause erosion and bank degradation.
Interim trade rules were put in place following two extreme dry years from 2017 to 2019, which saw no trade available from the Murrumbidgee system in NSW and no in-flows from the Darling — pushing up demand from the Goulburn River to new levels, causing continuous high flows.
Interim rules were extended last year and further testing has been conducted, as well as consultation with scientists, river operators, Traditional Owners, environmental waterway managers, irrigators and the community to settle on rules for the long term.
“We are making sure the lower Goulburn River is managed to protect its environmental health and its recreational, community and cultural values while protecting irrigators’ access to water,” Ms Neville said.
“The new rules will support irrigators by providing sustainable trade opportunities without impacting other water users or damaging the environment.”
From July 1 the interim rules will be replaced with similar long-term trade and operating rules.
In an average year, new trade opportunity will be around 150 gigalitres, an increase from 130Gl under the interim rule, while still allowing for extended low flows in summer.
