This balance relates to the current restriction in place only allowing downstream allocation (temporary) trade where the same or greater volume had been traded upstream.
Water licence holders are advised that the balance must be reset to zero at the start of the new water year, at 12.01am on Wednesday 1 July.
Water licence holders downstream of the choke can continue to trade allocations upstream.
From 1 July, downstream allocation trade will only be permitted at the choke once upstream trades have occurred, unless a determination is made to relax the normal trade restriction.
Determinations are based on weather patterns, likely water usage and water availability downstream of the choke.
Water entitlements (permanent) cannot be traded from above to below the choke.
Under the basin governments' Murray–Darling Basin Agreement, trading water across the Barmah Choke is restricted but does allow the restriction to be relaxed for allocations if there is available channel capacity.
ENDS
For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at media@mdba.gov.au or 02 6279 0141
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