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Warning for SA irrigators on river flow drop
7 May 2004
South Australian irrigators have been warned they may only receive 70 per cent of their normal water allocation from the River Murray in 2004-2005. SA faces a real risk of not receiving its normal entitlement flow, based on current estimates, said River Murray Minister John Hill. If the situation doesn't improve, SA Water's access to River Murray water would also fall 30 per cent, which may result in extra household water restrictions.
Mr Hill said although it's been an extremely dry year throughout the Murray Darling Basin to date, there's a 90 per cent chance that allocations for irrigators will improve in coming months.
The Murray Darling Basin Commission will make a final decision on whether SA will receive its normal annual entitlement of 1,850 gigalitres in June. Mr Hill said the advance warning for irrigators allows them to plan production levels, and when and how they use their entitlements. This is a very cautious figure and that's what the majority of irrigators wanted us to come up with, he said.
The Advertiser, 7/5/04.
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