Melbourne
35.1 Trade of surface water entitlement within region

Supporting information

The total volume of surface water trade for high reliability (HRWS) and low reliability (LRWS) water shares in regulated water systems, and take and use licences in unregulated water systems was 1,944 ML for the 2011–12 year.

The volume reported for water shares includes approved trades only. Trades in progress at the end of 2011–12 year are not included. The volume and number of trades reported for water shares is delineated by transfer of ownership of water shares (Table 1) and movement of water shares (transfer and variation – Table 2). Water share trade increased in volume (1,510 ML) and number (75 trades) compared to the 2010–11 year (434 ML and 30 trades). 

The volume reported for take and use licences includes permanent trade, temporary trade and trade as part of a land transfer (Table 3). Permanent trade transfers part or all of the volume from one licence to another and generally includes a location change. Trade, as part of a land transfer, results in a licence change in ownership without affecting its volume and location.

Table 1  Transfer of HRWS and LRWS in the Melbourne region during the 2011–12 year
Water share type Source and destination Volume (ML) No. of trades
HRWS Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District                           163                               5
Werribee River 12 2
Werribee Irrigation District 344 15
HRWS subtotal                           519                             22
LRWS Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District                             76                               5
Werribee River 5 1
Werribee Irrigation District 162 15
LRWS subtotal                           243                             21
Total                           762                             43


Table 2  Transfer and variation of HRWS and LRWS in the Melbourne region during the 2011–12 year
Water share type Source and destination Volume (ML) No. of trades
HRWS Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District                           143                               4
Werribee River 2 1
Werribee Irrigation District 265 11
HRWS subtotal                           410                             16
LRWS Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District                             67                               4
Werribee River 0 0
Werribee Irrigation District 125 11
LRWS subtotal                           192                             15
Total                           602                             31


Table 3  Trade of surface water take and use licences in unregulated waterways in the Melbourne region during the 2011–12 year
Unregulated systems Permanent trade Temporary trade Trade as part of land transfer Total
Source and destination Volume (ML) No. of trades Volume (ML) Number Volume (ML) No. of trades Volume (ML) No. of trades
Bunyip       46    2 97 6        378        18 521      26
Maribyrnong
 0 0 0 0 57 4          57    4
Werribee 0 0 0 0 2 1 2        1
Total     46          2      97   6 437       23       580        31


All figures and information were sourced from the Victorian Annual Water Trading Report 2011/12.