Murray–Darling Basin
21.2 Surface water allocation announcements – urban system
Supporting information
The volumetric value for the line item for the 2011–12 year was 582,020 ML for the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) region. The line item represents surface water allocation announcements for urban water systems associated with a number of entitlement classes (596,160 ML) less net allocation trade outward (14,140 ML) in the MDB region.
The following two tables provide a summary and breakdown information on surface water allocation announcements for urban water systems within the region.
| Water resource plan (WRP) area | State/Territory | Volume (ML) for the 2011–12 year | |
Code |
Name |
||
| SW19 | Warrego–Paroo–Nebine | Qld | 0 |
| SW18 | Condamine–Balonne | Qld | 0 |
| SW17 | Moonie | Qld | n/a |
| SW16 | Qld Border Rivers | Qld | 0 |
| SW15 | NSW Border Rivers | NSW | 620 |
| SW11 | Barwon–Darling Watercourse | NSW | 0 |
| SW12 | NSW Intersecting Streams | NSW | n/a |
| SW14 | Gwydir | NSW | 3,836 |
| SW13 | Namoi | NSW | 19,186 |
| SW10 | Macquarie–Castlereagh | NSW | 18,845 |
| Sub-total Northern Basin | 42,487 | ||
| SW9 | Lachlan | NSW | 15,545 |
| SW8 | Murrumbidgee NSW | NSW | 42,725 |
| SW7 | NSW Murray and Lower Darling | NSW | 46,802 |
| SW3 | Northern Victoria | Vic. | 99,507 |
| SW2 | Vic. Murray | Vic. | 51,784 |
| SW4 | Wimmera–Mallee | Vic. | 47,310 |
| SW6 | Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges | SA | n/a |
| SW5 | SA Murray | SA | 180,000 |
| SW1 | ACT | ACT | 70,000 |
| Sub-total Southern Basin | 553,673 | ||
| Total for the region | 596,160 | ||
| WRP area | Sustainable diversion limit (SDL) area |
State/Territory |
Entitlement class |
Volume (ML) for the 2011–12 year |
|
Code |
Name |
||||
| SW15 NSW Border Rivers | SS23 | NSW Border Rivers | NSW | Local water utility | 620 |
| SW14 Gwydir | SS22 | Gwydir | NSW | Local water utility | 3,836 |
| SW13 Namoi | SS21 | Namoi | NSW | Local water utility | 19,186 |
| SW10 Macquarie–Castlereagh | SS20 | Macquarie–Castlereagh | NSW | Local water utility | 18,805 |
| NSW | High security – town water supply | 40 | |||
| NSW | Sub-total | 18,845 | |||
| SW9 Lachlan | SS16 | Lachlan | NSW | Local water utility | 15,545 |
| SW8 Murrumbidgee NSW | SS15 | Murrumbidgee NSW | NSW | Local water utility | 22,956 |
| High security – town water supply | 19,769 | ||||
| Sub-total | 42,725 | ||||
| SW7 NSW Murray and Lower Darling | SS18 | Lower Darling | NSW | Local water utility | 10,135 |
| SS14 | NSW Murray | NSW | Local water utility | 33,497 | |
| High security – town water supply | 3,170 | ||||
| Sub-total | 36,667 | ||||
| Sub-total New South Wales | 147,559 | ||||
| SW3 Northern Victoria | SS4 | Ovens | Vic. | Urban–regulated | 7,832 |
| SS5 | Broken | Vic. | Urban–regulated | 2,263 | |
| SS6 | Goulburn | Vic. | Urban–regulated | 35,895 | |
| SS7 | Campaspe | Vic. | Urban–regulated | 50,824 | |
| SS8 | Loddon | Vic. | Urban–regulated | 2,693 | |
| SW2 Vic. Murray | SS2 | Vic. Murray | Vic. | Urban–regulated | 51,784 |
| Wimmera–Mallee | SS9 | Wimmera–Mallee | Vic. | Urban–regulated | 47,310 |
| Sub-total Victoria | 198,601 | ||||
| SW6 Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges | SS13 | Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges | SA | Urban | – |
| SW5 SA Murray | SS11 | SA Murray | SA | Class 2 – Other urban (country town) water supply | 50,000 |
| Class 6 – Metro-Adelaide water supply scheme | 130,000 | ||||
| Combined classes urban | |||||
| Sub-total | 180,000 | ||||
| SS10 | SA Non-prescribed areas | SA | Urban | – | |
| SW6 Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges | SS12 | Marne Saunders | SA | Urban | – |
| Sub-total South Australia | 180,000 | ||||
| ACT | SS1 | ACT | ACT | Urban–regulated | 70,000 |
| Total for the region | 596,160 | ||||
– = no data available
Allocation reconciliation
The following table reconciles carry-over, allocation announcements, allocation diversion, allocation trade and allocation forfeiture for the jurisdictions within the MDB region for the 2011–12 year. All allocation related non-urban and urban line items have been considered in the reconciliation.
Jurisdiction |
A = Line items 5.1 and 5.2 opening volume (allocation carry-over, ML) |
B = Line items 21.1 and 21.2 (allocation announcements, ML) |
C = Line items 17.11 and 17.12 (allocation diversion, ML) |
D = Line items 13.1 and 13.2 (forfeiture, ML) |
E = Line item 37.1 (temporary water trade inward, ML) |
F = Line item 37.1 (temporary water trade outward, ML) |
G = Line items 5.1 and 5.2 closing volume (allocation carry-over, ML) |
A+B+E-C-D-F-G (ML) |
| Queensland | 14,667 |
219,551 |
164,760 |
80,358 |
81,858 |
55,746 |
15,212 |
0 |
| New South Wales | 3,901,622 |
5,718,371 |
3,876,430 |
1,310,530 |
2,158,729 |
2,230,966 |
4,360,796 |
0 |
| Victoria | 2,864,073 |
2,762,779 |
2,404,884 |
366,418 |
1,141,030 |
1,372,711 |
2,623,870 |
0 |
| South Australia | 0 |
822,980 |
424,531 |
676,254 |
722,737 |
444,932 |
0 |
0 |
| Australian Capitol Territory | 0 |
70,000 |
41,790 |
28,210 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| All | 6,780,362 |
9,593,682 |
6,912,395 |
2,461,770 |
4,104,354 |
4,104,354 |
6,999,878 |
0 |
The table shows allocations for all the jurisdictions were reconciled with no unaccounted volumes when allocation–related both non-urban and urban line items had been considered and allocation trades had been taken into account.
When only urban line items were considered, it was not possible to consider allocation trade in the reconciliation process because:
- allocation trade has not yet been included as input variable in the current accounting process
- details of allocation trade between non-urban and urban entitlement l classes were not available.
Reconciliation of urban line items (5.2, 13.2, 17.12 and 21.2) excluding allocation trades shows unaccounted volume of 14,140 ML. This unaccounted volume has been due to exclusion of allocation trade in the reconciliation. Reconciliation of urban line items (5.1, 13.1, 17.11 and 21.1) has resulted in the same unaccounted volume. Therefore, allocation announcements (line items 21.1 and 21.2) have been revised as shown in the following table to accommodate change in water availability as a result of net allocation trade.
| Segment | Line item 21.1 |
Line item 21.2 |
Both line items 21.1 and 21.2 |
||||||
Estimated from received data (ML) |
Revised volume accommodating temporary water trade to reconcile allocation–related line items (ML) |
Difference between estimated and revised volumes (ML) |
Estimated from received data (ML) |
Revised to reconcile allocation–related line items (ML) |
Difference between estimated and revised volumes (ML) |
Estimated from received data (ML) |
Revised to reconcile allocation–related line items (ML) |
Difference between estimated and revised volumes (ML) |
|
| Northern Basin | 1,599,486 |
1,599,474 |
12 |
42,487 |
42,499 |
–12 |
1,641,973 |
1,641,973 |
0 |
| Southern Basin | 7,398,035 |
7,412,187 |
–14,152 |
553,673 |
539,521 |
14,152 |
7,951,709 |
7,951,709 |
0 |
| Whole region | 8,997,521 |
9,011,661 |
–14,140 |
596,160 |
582,020 |
14,140 |
9,593,682 |
9,593,682 |
0 |
Queensland
In Queensland, the resource operation plans (ROPs) distinguish between high and medium priority of supplemented water allocation. The water audit monitoring (WAM) data, which are the data source for the 2012 Account, only distinguish between supplemented and unsupplemented entitlements. Both urban and non-urban supplemented entitlements are included within supplemented entitlement class. Supplemented urban and supplemented non-urban volumes on allocations, diversions and other attributes were received together and it was not possible for these to be separated out for two purposes. Therefore, surface water allocation announcements for both urban and non-urban supplemented entitlements are included in line item 21.1 Surface water allocation announcements.
New South Wales
New South Wales volumes reported in this line item contain the allocation announcements made under major and local water utility classes as well as the high security town water supply class. Water use for cultural, industrial, research, community and education activities have been categorised as non-urban. Therefore, related allocation announcements are included in line item 21.1 Surface water allocation announcements.
In calculating allocation announcements, impacts of implementing new water sharing plans and abolishing existing plans have been taken into account. In addition, water availability related to allocation announcements took into account impact of reservoir spilling.
Victoria
Victorian allocation announcements are shown in the source valley, even if the water was taken in a different destination valley. Therefore all entitlements in the Goulburn SDL area have their allocation announcements shown in that area, rather than the destination valleys of the Loddon or the Campaspe.
Transfers to Melbourne via the North–South pipeline occur under a commercial arrangement and not under an entitlement. Therefore, no separate allocation volumes are available.
Australian Capital Territory
In the Australian Capital Territory, no formal allocation announcement is made to extract water from storages. The allocation announcement for the year is assumed to be equal to the total entitlement volume.
Quantification approach
Data source
(1) New South Wales Office of Water: water accounting section; and (2) water audit monitoring (WAM) data received from Australian Capital Territory (10 January 2013), Queensland (4 February 2013), South Australia (21 March 2013) and Victoria (31 January 2012). WAM data are stored in the Murray–Darling Basin Authority HYDRO database.
Provided by
Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau).
Method
- Allocation announcements are usually the entitlements on issue multiplied by the percentage allocation announced.
- Allocation announcement is as calculated by the States and Australian Capital Territory.
- WAM–supplied data are either measured, modelled or estimated.
- The data supplied by New South Wales Office are prepared on a water balance approach. It implies that the movement of values during the year will balance the opening and closing balances. The forfeitures and adjustments have been checked to ensure that the closing balance reconciles.
Assumptions, limitations, caveats and approximations
Uncertainty estimates reported by New South Wales Office of Water include possible errors in the data handling processes.
Information provided in this line item may have been based on Cap valleys in the HYDRO database, which may not align perfectly with SDL areas.
Uncertainty information
Uncertainty of allocation announcements may in part be due to existing entitlements being converted into a different class, new entitlements issued, or entitlements cancelled following commissioning of a water saving infrastructure project.
The table below shows the WAM uncertainty percentages and the measurement method applied that relates to the reported percentage.
| Percentage (%) | Accuracy description |
5 |
Metered diversions |
10 |
Estimate based on user meter readings |
20 |
Detailed estimate based on regional surveys |
40 |
Estimate based on user returns |
The following table below outlines the WAM uncertainty percentage for each entitlement class for each jurisdiction.
| State | Entitlement class | Uncertainty (%) |
| Qld | Condamine Balonne | 5 |
| Qld | Border Rivers | 5 |
| Qld | Moonie System | n/a |
| Qld | Nebine | n/a |
| Qld | Warrego | 5 |
| Qld | Paroo | n/a |
| NSW | Combined NSW regulated data reliability | 10 |
| Vic. | Broken | 5–10 |
| Vic. | Goulburn | 5 |
| Vic. | Campaspe | 5 |
| Vic. | Loddon | 5 |
| Vic. | Ovens | 5 |
| Vic. | Murray | 5–10 |
| Vic. | Wimmera–Mallee | 5 |
| SA | Class 2 and Class 6 | 5 |
Comparative year
This line item corresponds to line item 21.2 'Surface water allocation announcements – urban system' reported in the 2011 Account. Availability of updated information resulted in the restatement of the 2010–11 year volume.
In the 2011 Account, 163,300 ML was included in the line item for entitlement classes 2 and 6 in the South Australian Murray SDL area for the 2010–11 year. The volume was revised as 181,000 ML in the 2012 Account after receiving updated information. The respective volumes associated with the change are detailed in the following table.
| 2011 Account line item | Segment | 2012 Account volume for the 2010–11 year (ML) | 2011 Account volume for the 2010–11 year (ML) | Difference due to updated information (ML) |
| 21.2 Surface water allocation announcements –urban water system | Northern Basin | 42,150 | 42,150 | 0 |
| Southern Basin | 514,394 | 496,694 | 17,700 | |
| Whole region | 556,544 | 538,844 | 17,700 |