MACALISTER Irrigation District irrigators today received a 30 per cent allocation of high reliability water for the 2009-10 season and for diverters on the Thomson and Macalister Rivers and Rainbow Creek.
Southern Rural Water said the opening allocation, which also applies to diverters on the Thomson and Macalister Rivers and Rainbow Creek, was well below last season’s opening of 80 per cent, due to dry conditions.
Lake Glenmaggie was at just at 19 per cent at the completion of the past season
Rainfall and inflows into Lake Glenmaggie have since been below average.
“Our allocation policy means that we declare the opening allocation on all available water resources,” said SRW Water Supply general manager Clinton Rodda.
“While SRW and the Macalister Customer Consultative Committee are hopeful that spring rains will see the reservoir fill and spill, this announcement will allow customers to plan their water requirements,” Mr Rodda said.
While Macalister district irrigators cannot use their allocation on farm until the start of the irrigation season on the August 15, they can trade their allocation.
Customers on the Thomson and Macalister Rivers can access their allocation this week. Mr Rodda said SRW would review available water resources and make an allocation announcement every two weeks.
The next allocation announcement will be on July 14.
The low allocation follows a run of good seasons for Macalister irrigators, with the 2007-08 allocation climbing to 200 per cent due to unseasonally high rain storms.
