Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Water
  3. Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
  4. Trade of Commonwealth environmental water
  5. Trade intentions

Sidebar first - EN - Water

  • Trade
    • Trade intentions
    • Trade rules and legislation
    • Past trades
    • Trading consultation and development

Trade intentions

January to March 2023

Following the conclusion of the January 2023 Goulburn water allocation sale, further sales in the Southern Basin are under consideration by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder later this year.

There is no intention by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to purchase or sell permanent water entitlements in any Murray-Darling Basin catchment. The recovery or purchase of permanent water entitlements is led by other parts of the Commonwealth government as part of the implementation of the Basin Plan – further information is found at Water recovery in the Murray-Darling Basin.

General update for water year 2022-23

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is subject to the same rules and regulations as other Basin water entitlement holders and can use, carry-over, transfer and trade annual water allocations to achieve the best possible outcomes and value from the Commonwealth portfolio of environmental water for the Australian community.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder uses trade proceeds to fund activities to improve the delivery of water for the environment which aim to maximise environmental outcomes.

Examples of environmental activities include works to improve the delivery of water to wetlands and important river reaches, fishways that allow native fish species more opportunities to move and complete their life stages, and projects with First Nations peoples to grow shared understanding of cultural outcomes. More information can be found at CEWO Environmental Activities Framework (CEAF).

Significantly wetter than average conditions this water year has meant that, in some catchments, we expect that the volume of water allocations will be more than is required to meet current environmental watering needs. Under these circumstances the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder can consider the sale (or trade) of water allocations.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder has traded water allocation in the past. These have been of very small volumes when compared to the total water for environment and are also a small proportion of the total trades made by other market participants. To date, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder has delivered more than 14,000 GL of water and sold about 0.4% of that amount.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder announces trade intentions each quarter and updates them as required.

Past trade intentions

The CEWH has announced that he currently has no intention to trade, either temporarily or permanently in the October to December 2022 quarter. Should there be a change to the CEWH’s trading activities this will be announced as an update to this quarter’s announcement, otherwise the next update will be for the January to March 2023 quarter.

The CEWH has announced that he has no intention to trade, either temporarily or permanently, in the first three months of 2022-23. Any trading activities are most likely between September and March, particularly in the months of November, January, and March.

Sale of allocations in the Goulburn

In early January, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) announced it was investigating a possible sale, or series of smaller sales, of water allocations in the Goulburn River system prior to the end of the 2021-22 water year. Following this investigation, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) has made the decision not to pursue any water allocation sales in the Goulburn this water year. This decision was made with regard to the timing of a potential sale, the amount of water currently being used and held by other water users in the catchment, the volume of water held in storage, and the likely water availability at the start of the 2022-23 water year. Similarly, the CEWH is not considering undertaking any water allocation sales in other Basin catchments this water year.

The CEWO continuously monitors its water holdings across all Basin catchments as part of its portfolio management activities, seeking to use its portfolio of water in one of three ways: delivery of environmental water, carry over of environmental water for use in a new water year, or trade water (e.g., through the sale of water allocations). If a water allocation sale is conducted, the proceeds are then used by the CEWH to purchase water (either in a different valley or in a future year) or to fund high-priority environmental activities to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of future environmental watering actions.

The significant improvement in rainfall and inflows throughout the Murray-Darling Basin in 2021 and into 2022 is helping to achieve a range of environmental outcomes.

Even in wet conditions, water for the environment has an important role to play. Planning for the new water year (which starts 1 July) is underway, with consideration being given to using water to meet environmental needs over the remainder of autumn/early winter and the volumes to be carried over for use next year.

Entitlement trade

The CEWH has undertaken the sale of temporary water allocations on a number of occasions (see Past trades) but has never directly bought or sold permanent water entitlements and has no current plans to do so.

The CEWO continually assesses environmental needs and the status of the Commonwealth environmental water holdings across the Basin, and works towards achieving optimal environmental outcomes. Further information on proposed priority watering actions this year is provided in the CEWO’s 2021-22 water management plan.

Sale of allocations in the Goulburn under investigation

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) is currently investigating a possible sale, or series of smaller sales, of water allocations in the Goulburn River system prior to the end of the 2021-22 year. High allocations and natural rainfall events may result in the volume of water available in the Goulburn being in excess of environmental water requirements in scope for 2021-22, and the same circumstances may persist into 2022-23 following a La Nina year.

If the sale or sales occurred, the proceeds would be used by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) for high-priority environmental activities. The size of any sale or sales is a matter under investigation, but is likely to be similar to previous sales in the Goulburn.

The significant improvement in rainfall and inflows throughout the Murray-Darling Basin in 2021 is helping to achieve a range of environmental outcomes. This is likely to continue, with the Bureau of Meteorology expecting La Nina to persist until late summer or early autumn.

Even in wet conditions, water for the environment has an important role to play. Aside from the Goulburn valley, all or nearly all water allocations held by the Commonwealth will be required to meet environmental needs, either later in the 2021-22 water year or in future years.

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 09 February 2023

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.