More than two million megalitres of water delivered to irrigators

The season’s water deliveries of 2,047,000 ML were the highest since the 2014/15 season, when more than 2,058,000 ML of water was delivered.

GMW managing director Pat Lennon said staff had worked hard to meet the challenge of a high-demand season.

“We’ve met this logistical challenge with very few issues,” Mr Lennon said.

“It’s a testament of the effort put in by our staff.” 

Northern Victorian resource manager Mark Bailey said low rainfall had an impact on storage inflows.

A prolonged dry spell in the opening months of 2018 led to a dry season, with large areas of Victoria recording rainfalls well below the average.

The Bureau of Meteorology proclaimed Victoria had the driest April since 1997.

The state’s total monthly rainfall was 68.5 per cent below the long-term mean of 51 millimetres.

Dr Bailey said the dry conditions translated into below average inflows to the major GMW storages.

Most of the storages have received less than 50 per cent of the long-term mean.

Up until the end of April, Lake Eildon received almost 850,000 ML in inflows, which is 71 per cent of the long-term mean.

Storages receiving less than 50 per cent of mean included Goulburn Weir, which received approximately 476,000 ML, Lake Eppalock, which received approximately 45,200 ML, and Lake Nillahcootie, which received approximately 16,000 ML.

Dartmouth Dam recorded more than 524,000 ML of inflows, while the Hume Dam recorded more than 1,099,000 ML.

 “Conditions have been warm and dry across northern Victoria through autumn and storage levels are yet to increase,” Dr Bailey said.

He urged customers to look ahead and plan for the 2018/19 season, which opens on August 15.