Environmental water holdings

Water is recovered by the Australian Government through a combination of investments in water-saving infrastructure, water purchases and other water recovery programs. This water becomes part of the Commonwealth's environmental water holdings. For further information on the management of water holdings see:

For a detailed breakdown of the Commonwealth Environmental Water holdings since 2008-09 see:

Commonwealth Environmental water Holdings by Catchment and Year (PDF - 82.89 KB)
Commonwealth Environmental water Holdings by Catchment and Year (XLSX - 24.59 KB)

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Overview

Commonwealth Environmental Water Holdings

The following table provides details of the Commonwealth environmental water holdings.

Holdings at 31 January 2023*
River System Security Registered
entitlements 1,2,3,4(ML)		 Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML)5
Queensland
Border Rivers High - -
Medium 15,540 5,241
Unsupplemented 19,986 8,094
Condamine Balonne Unsupplemented 69,379 48,941
Overland Flow 96,741 37,602
Moonie Unsupplemented 5,671 2,523
Nebine Unsupplemented 5,920 3,842
St George Medium 45 43
Upper Condamine Unsupplemented 841 813
Groundwater 40,224 35,208
Warrego Unsupplemented 39,455 20,096
Total QLD High - -
Medium 15,585 5,284
Unsupplemented 141,251 84,309
Overland flow 96,741 37,602
  Groundwater 40,224 35,208
New South Wales
Barwon-Darling Unregulated 28,631 28,631
Border Rivers High - -
General 2,806 946
Supplementary 1,437 1,002
Gwydir High 4,508 3,994
General 89,525 34,020
Supplementary 20,451 9,919
Lachlan High 933 865
General 86,923 34,422
Lower Darling High 4,234 3,108
General 21,564 20,076
Macquarie/Cudgegong High - -
General 126,224 65,132
Supplementary 8,292 4,876
Murray High 17,858 15,590
General 369,629 258,371
Conveyance 20,214 18,556
Supplementary 211 148
Groundwater 1,522 1,522
Unregulated 184 184
Murrumbidgee High 14,180 13,854
General 286,467 169,302
Conveyance 50,256 43,723
Supplementary 21,986 8,289
Supplementary (Lowbidgee) 406,623 180,885
Groundwater 5,077 5,077
Unregulated 164 164
Namoi (upper) High - -
General 105 79
Namoi (lower) High - -
General 13,548 10,202
Peel General 1,257 263
Warrego Unregulated 17,826 13,773
Total NSW High 41,714 37,411
General 998,048 592,810
Conveyance 70,470 62,279
Supplementary 459,000 205,118
Unregulated 46,805 42,752
Groundwater 6,599 6,599
Victoria
Broken High 534 304
Low 4 0.3
Campaspe High 6,624 6,289
Low 395 226
Goulburn High 318,557 308,045
Low 42,467 24,758
Loddon High 3,356 2,094
Low 527 26
Murray High 362,360 352,939
Low 35,413 19,229
Ovens High 123 55
Wimmera-Mallee Bulk Entitlement 28,000 23,184
Total Victoria High 691,555 669,726
Low 78,807 44,240
Bulk Entitlement 28,000 23,184
South Australia
Murray High 162,313 144,020
Total SA High 162,313 144,020
Total Murray-Darling Basin
  High 895,581 851,157
  General/Medium/Low 1,092,440 642,334
  Conveyance 70,470 62,279
  Bulk Entitlement 28,000 23,184
  Supplementary 459,000 205,118
  Unsupplemented/Unregulated4 188,056 127,061
  Overland Flow 96,741 37,602
  Groundwater 46,823 41,807
GRAND TOTAL   2,877,111 1,990,542
 
Southern Connected Basin6
  High 889,987 846,219
  General/Low 756,467 491,989
  Conveyance 70,470 62,279
  Supplementary 428,820 189,322
TOTAL   2,145,744 1,589,808
Non-Southern Connected Basin
  High 5,594 4,938
  General/Medium/Low 335,973 150,346
  Bulk Entitlement 28,000 23,184
  Supplementary 30,180 15,796
  Unregulated/Unsupplemented4 188,056 127,061
  Overland Flow 96,741 37,602
  Groundwater 46,823 41,807
TOTAL   731,367 400,734
*All figures are rounded to the nearest megalitre (ML)

Notes:

  1. Formal transfer of ownership to the Commonwealth takes place on registration of the entitlement by the relevant State water authority. The entitlement becomes part of the Commonwealth environmental water holdings at that time.
  2. Registration can occur a number of months after the exchange of contract, so the amount in the holdings differs from the volume of entitlements secured under contract through the Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin program and the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure program.
  3. Allocations of water against entitlements held in regulated systems are made periodically and will depend on factors including seasonal inflows and rules associated with water held in storages.
  4. Unsupplemented and unregulated entitlement figures represent the annual volumetric limit of water that may be available when licence conditions are met. Where the licence conditions specify the annual volumetric limit as a maximum volume of water that may be accessed in a multi-year period, the entitlement volume reported reflects the average annual volumetric limit available.
  5. All average annual yield figures in this table are calculated using the Department of the Environment estimates of the long term average annual yield for each entitlement. It was advised in the Murray-Darling Basin Ministers' Communiqué of 4 November 2011 that these would be used to determine how much of the 'gap' between the Baseline Diversion Limit (BDL) and the Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDL) has been 'bridged' through purchase and infrastructure projects.
  6. Southern Connected Basin entitlements include Murrumbidgee, Murray, Lower Darling, Goulburn-Broken, Campaspe (excluding Coliban) and Loddon titles.

Subject to water accounting adjustments. Slight discrepancies may exist due to rounding. Allocations of water against entitlements held in regulated systems are made periodically and will depend on factors including seasonal inflows and rules associated with water accounts.

Northern catchments

Barwon-Darling

Barwon-Darling water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Unregulated (A Class) 73 73 Not applicable 0 0 0 Not applicable
Unregulated (B Class) 16,060 16,060
Unregulated (C Class) 12,498 12,498
Total 28,631 28,631 0 0 0 0 0

For unsupplemented entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Border Rivers

Border Rivers water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Nominal Volume (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML)1 Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Medium (Qld) 15,540 15,540 5,241 13,406 0 0 0 13,406
Unsupplemented (Qld) 19,986 8,094 8,094 0 10,548 0 10,548 0
Supplementary (NSW) 1,437 Not applicable 1,002 0 0 0 0 0
General (NSW) 2,806 Not applicable 946 2,806 0 0 0 2,806
Total 39,769 23,634 15,283 16,212 10,548 0 10,548 16,212

For unsupplemented entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

1. New allocations in the Border Rivers in continuous water accounting areas include inflows, evaporative loss and seepage from storage. This may be negative if losses are greater than inflows.

Condamine-Balonne

Condamine-Balonne catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Nominal Volume (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Nebine Creek Unsupplemented 5,920 1,000 3,842 Not applicable 111,280 0 111,280 Not applicable
Lower Balonne Unsupplemented 68,317 48,114 48,114 0
Condamine-Balonne Unsupplemented 1,062 827 827 0
Condamine-Balonne Overland Flow 96,741 40,268 37,602 0
Upper-Condamine Unsupplemented 841 813 813 Not applicable 0 0 0 Not applicable
Upper-Condamine Groundwater1 40,224 40,224 35,208 0 40,204 0 0 40,204
St George - Medium 45 45 43 40 0 0 0 45
Total 213,149 131,291 126,448 40 151,484 0 111,280 40,249

For unsupplemented entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

1. Long Term Average Annual Yield revised based on information provided by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

Gwydir

Gwydir catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
High 4,508 3,994 134,288 5,462 0 1,454 138,296
General 89,525 34,020 0
Supplementary 20,451 9,919 0 0 0 0 0
Total 114,484 47,932 134,288 5,462 0 1,454 138,296

For supplementary entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Lachlan

Lachlan catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
High 933 865 106,110 100,894 0 750 100,894
General 86,923 34,422 0
Total 87,856 35,286 106,110 100,894 0 750 100,894

Macquarie

Macquarie-Castlereagh water holdings1 at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
General 126,224 65,132 125,454 126,224 0 35,000 91,224
Supplementary2 8,292 4,876 0 0 0 0 0
Total 134,516 70,008 125,454 126,224 0 35,000 91,224

1. Includes the Cudgegong regulated river system.
2. For supplementary entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Moonie

Moonie catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Nominal Volume (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Unsupplemented 5,671 2,609 2,523 Not applicable 5,487 0 5,487 Not applicable

For unsupplemented entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Namoi

Namoi catchment water holdings1 at 31 January 2023
Location Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Upper Namoi General 105 79 27,096 105 0 0 27,201
Lower Namoi 13,548 10,202 0
Peel 1,257 263 0 1,257 0 0 1,257
  Total 14,910 10,543 27,096 1,362 0 0 28,458

1 Includes the Peel, upper and lower Namoi catchments.

Warrego

Warrego catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Nominal Volume (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Unsupplemented (Qld) 39,455 18,961 20,096 Not applicable 9,361 0 9,361 Not applicable
Unregulated (NSW) 17,826 Not applicable 13,773 0
Total 57,281 18,961 33,869 Not applicable 9,361 0 9,361 Not applicable

For unregulated and unsupplemented entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Southern catchments

Southern-connected Basin

Southern-connected Basin water holdings1,2 at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net Portfolio Management Transfers (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
High 889,987 846,219 659,263 1,094,623 0 0 1,258,538 495,348
General/Low 756,467 491,989
Conveyance 70,470 62,279
Supplementary3 428,820 189,322 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2,145,744 1,589,808 659,263 1,094,623 0 0 1,258,538 495,348

1. Water allocations in southern-connected Basin catchments can, with some restrictions, be traded to other catchments in the southern-connected Basin. This gives the Commonwealth the capacity to move water between catchments of the southern-connected Basin to get the best outcomes for the environment.
2. Southern connected basin includes the following hydrologically connected catchments: Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon, Murray (SA, Victoria, and NSW), Lower Darling, and Murrumbidgee.
3. For supplementary entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Campaspe

Campaspe catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net Portfolio Management Transfers (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
High1 6,624 6,289 0 7,019 0 0 7,020 6,625
Low 395 226
Total 7,020 6,514 0 7,019 0 0 7,020 6,625

1. Includes 30 ML of entitlement in the Coliban Water system. This entitlement was obtained as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package. It is not possible to trade this entitlement out of the Coliban system for use in the wider Campaspe system or for use in the connecting Murray River.

Goulburn-Broken

Goulburn-Broken Basin water holdings at 31 January 2023
Location Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net Portfolio Management Transfers (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Vic High (Goulburn) 318,557 308,045 138,617 222,407 0 0 230,162 130,862
Low (Goulburn) 42,467 24,758
High (Broken) 534 304 2 536 0 0 538 0
Low (Broken) 4 0
  Total 361,562 333,108 138,620 222,943 0 0 230,700 130,862

Loddon

Loddon catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net Portfolio Management Transfers (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
High 3,356 2,094 0 3,883 0 0 0 3,883
Low 527 26
Total 3,883 2,121 0 3,883 0 0 0 3,883

Murray

Murray catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Location Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net Portfolio Management Transfers (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
NSW High1 22,092 18,698 184,785 285,677 15,000 0 422,345 63,117
General2 391,193 278,447
Conveyance 20,214 18,556
Unregulated 184 184 0 0 0 0 0 0
Supplementary3 211 148
Groundwater 1,522 1,522 2,783 1,522 0 0 0 4,305
Vic High 362,360 352,939 234,841 162,932 0 0 255,000 142,773
Low 35,413 19,229
SA High 162,158 143,883 0 162,313 0 0 130,494 31,819
  Total 995,347 833,607 422,410 612,444 15,000 0 807,838 242,015

1. Includes 4,234 ML of High security entitlement in the Lower Darling
2. Includes 21,564 ML of General security entitlement in the Lower Darling
3. For supplementary entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Murrumbidgee

Murrumbidgee catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net Portfolio Management Transfers (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
High 14,180 13,854 101,017 249,886 -15,000 0 220,000 115,903
General 286,467 169,302
Conveyance 50,256 43,723
Supplementary 21,986 8,289 0 0 0 0 0 0
Supplementary (Lowbidgee) 406,623 180,885
Unregulated 164 164 0 0 0 0 0 0
Groundwater 5,077 5,077 10,154 5,077 0 0 0 15,231
Total 784,753 421,293 111,171 254,963 -15,000 0 220,000 131,134

For supplementary entitlements, no ‘carryover’ or ‘water account balance’ is reported. 'New allocations’ and ‘available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly’ are accounted at the time of take.

Ovens

Ovens catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
High 123 55 0 123 0 0 123

Wimmera-Avoca

Wimmera-Avoca catchment water holdings at 31 January 2023
Security Registered entitlements (ML) Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) Carryover from 2021-22 (ML) New allocations in 2022-23 (ML) Net trade (ML) Available water transferred for delivery or delivered directly in 2022-23 (ML) Estimated current Commonwealth water account balance (ML)
Bulk Entitlement1 28,000 23,184 0 28,000 0 0 28,000

1. This water is held through a Supply by Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Corporation.