End of Season Newsletter - gmwater.com.au€¦ · End of Season Newsletter 2014/2015 1 End of Season Newsletter 2014/2015 In this newsletter you will find tips to help you manage

End of Season Newsletter 2014/2015 1

End of Season Newsletter2014/2015

In this newsletter you will find tips to help you manage your water account as the 2014/15 irrigation season comes to a close, as well as advice on how to prepare for 2015/16.

At GMW, we are committed to supporting you so you can make informed decisions about the water related services that support your business.

To ensure that we do this well we are continually reviewing our internal processes and looking for efficiencies and savings.In the past year we have been working closely with our Water Services Committees, who represent you, on a number of important initiatives. One of these has been to review our pricing structure.

We have recently started communicating important changes to the various customer groups. Over the coming months we will continue to provide you with more information about how our charges will more accurately and fairly reflect the costs of providing services to you.

This year’s winter maintenance program and the steady roll out of the Connections Project are other ways we are working to secure an efficient water supply, modernise the irrigation delivery network and generate water savings.It is an exciting time to be in agriculture and we know the costs of production are critical to how you make the most of the opportunities generated by the increase in global and national demand for food and fibre.

We also know we need to make sure we continue to consult with you about why we make the decisions we do and how they affect your business. As we commence development of our Water Plan 16/17-19/20 we will provide opportunity for your feedback on this important document.

There are now numerous ways you can communicate with us (see our back page) - your feedback is always welcome and encouraged, it really helps us implement improvements.

Head of Customer Service and Operations Daniel Irwin

Welcome

End of Season Newsletter 2014/2015


Plan your winter water supply now

Each year we drain many of our channels during the irrigation off season (15 May to 15 August) so we can conduct important maintenance.

Due to this draining we cannot guarantee reliable water supply during this period. Please ensure you have an alternate water supply and fill your water tanks or dams before 15 May.

The non-irrigation period is typically a time we carry out important works, such as weed control, channel maintenance, infrastructure repairs and replacement to ensure the efficient delivery of water to you during the irrigation period.

This winter works program may mean you will see more traffic, earth moving equipment and heavy vehicles operating in your area.

Please be aware of the increased traffic, obey all signs and drive safely.

For safety reasons, public access to these work sites is not allowed.

Please note this message applies generally to our customers who receive supply from our channel network.

Manage your water allocation to get the best possible financial outcome.

To ensure your water is secure, here are your end of season options and actions to take before 30 June.

Make the most of your unused water allocation

Sell your allocation

You can find a buyer yourself or use a water broker or solicitor to find a buyer for you by 19 June.

Relinquish your allocation

If you don’t want to carry over water into the next season you can apply to relinquish your allocation. This will save you money by avoiding extra fees to store water above your entitlement volume. There is no charge to relinquish water. Please contact us for assistance.

Carryover your allocation

Follow the steps listed on the next page.

Use your allocation

if you choose to use your unused water allocation you must place your order with us before 11 May.


Planning your carryover

Tips for trading

If you need to trade water allocation between your allocation accounts allow enough time to make any changes to your accounts and water shares. It takes a minimum of five working days to transfer water between allocation accounts unless you use the Water Register’s online portal.

For up to date information on processing timeframes for water trades with GMW visit:http://www.g-mwater.com.au/water-resources/water-trading

Read the ‘Online Trading’ article on page 7 for hot tips to speed up trade time!

Before 30 June 2015, please make sure your water is in an allocation account linked to your water share. If it isn’t, any unused allocation will be written off at the end of this season.

Your unused allocation must be in an account linked to enough water share to meet your carryover needs. If you recently sold your water share or bought allocation but only hold a small water share volume, talk to us about how the carryover rules could affect you.

To understand how carryover and spillable water work for water shares linked to your allocation account, you can use the carryover calculator on the Water Register website: http://waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-entitlements/carryover/carryover-calculator

Loddon & Bullarook systems

If you are a customer on one of these systems you can carry over a maximum volume equal to 50% of your high-reliability water share and 50% of your low-reliability water share. To do this please ensure all water shares are linked to the same allocation account you want to carryover water into.

Broken system

If you are a Broken system customer, please remember water allocation trading and carryover rules changed from 1 July last year. You can carryover a maximum volume equal to 50% of your high-reliability water share but you can no longer carryover against your low-reliability water share.

Please note carryover is not available if you are on the Ovens & King systems or in the Tungamah & Loddon water districts.


How much you carry over against your water shares can affect how much water will be available to you in the new season.

In preparing for the 2015/2016 season, please remember that you are only guaranteed access to carryover and new allocation up to 100% of your full water share volume.

Once you reach your full water share volume, any further allocation increases are recorded in your account as spillable water.

You cannot use or trade spillable water until the Northern Victorian Resource Manager is confident the dams will not spill later in the season and announces a low risk of spill declaration (see sidebar).

Use the carryover calculator on the Water Register website and see how this works for your water share: http://waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-entitlements/carryover/carryover-calculator

When spills happen, a percentage is deducted from the spillable accounts of all entitlement holders, including urban, irrigators and the

Victorian and Commonwealth environmental water holders. You can find accurate details of the water carried over, allocated, spilled and used this year at: http://waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-availability-and-use/unused-water

How carryover and spillable water will work in the 2015/2016 season

Spill announcements

The Northern Victorian Resource Manager makes announcements about the risk of spill on 1 July and the 10th of each month until a low risk of spill declaration is made.

Charges

• You will be charged a fee for any water made available above your water share volume.

• Fees do not apply to water that spills.

• If you don’t want to carry over water into the next season you can apply to relinquish your allocation or you could sell it. This will save you money by avoiding extra fees to store water above your entitlement volume.


Allocations made to your water share through the season are credited to an allocation account.

The account is sometimes called an ABA, which is shorthand for ‘allocation bank account’ (the word ‘bank’ isn’t used anymore, but the shorthand abbreviation still is).

Here are some helpful tips about allocation accounts:

• The balance of an allocation account is the amount of water available for the current season.

• The volume of your water share is the maximum amount of allocation that can be made against it each year.

• The seasonal determination is the percentage of your water share volume available under current conditions, as

determined by the Resource Manager. Seasonal determinations are announced for high-reliability water shares and low-reliability water shares separately.

• A 100% seasonal determination means that you have your full water share volume available.

• You cannot carry over more than 100% of the total volume of water shares you own. The breakdown of this volume depends upon the system you are on. Loddon and Bullarook systems can only carry over a maximum volume equal to 50% of your high-reliability water share and 50% of your low-reliability water share. In the Broken System you can only carryover 50% of your high-reliability water share.

• Any water allocation you haven’t used will carryover at the end of the season as long as it’s in an allocation account linked to your water share and within the limits for your water system.

Understanding allocation accounts

%A 100% seasonal determination means that you have your full water share volume available


Allocation trade limits

This season, trading of water allocations from above the Barmah Choke to downstream of the Choke has also been restricted to protect the delivery of downstream water entitlements. Trade to entitlement holders downstream of the Choke can only occur if there has been trade to entitlement holders upstream of the Choke.

Customers participating in the water trading market can monitor trade availability on the Water Register website: waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-trading/allocation-trading

Further information about what the limits are and why they are in place is also available on the Water Register website.

All northern Victorian systems are expected to have seasonal determinations of 100% high-reliability water shares by mid-December 2015 under average inflow conditions.

Storages in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems are holding less water than at this time last year so the risk of spill early in 2015/16 will be lower than previous years if inflows remain low over the next few months. The dry conditions also reduce the likelihood of seasonal determinations of low-reliability water shares in 2015/16.

Weather conditions over the next couple of months will have a large bearing on water use and the volume of allocation to be carried over into 2015/16.

The seasonal determination outlook will be updated on Friday 15 May.

The first 2015/16 seasonal determination announcement will be released on Wednesday 1 July and will include an assessment of the probability of spill in the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems.

For information, please visithttp://www.nvrm.net.au

2015/16 Seasonal Determination Outlook

Controls have been implemented on allocation trades to the Victorian side of the River Murray and trades between states. The controls help to avoid sudden suspensions being imposed on allocation trade.

The controls limit the volume of allocation that can be traded each season between the following areas:

From To

New South Wales Victoria

Goulburn system or Campaspe system or Loddon system

The Victorian side of the River Murray or New South Wales or South Australia

Broken system Victorian Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon, New South Wales and South Australia


There is now automated approval for allocation trades submitted online through most water brokers. You can also sign up for online trading if you want to manage your own allocation trades.

Access to online allocation trading means you can:

• trade your allocation with near instant approval in most cases

• check for errors before you submit your application

• view your allocation account transactions and balance

• see previous years’ account statements, and

• generate an up to date statement for the current financial year.

Signing up for online allocation trade means application fees are cheaper and your trades are approved faster. It’s free to register for online access.

To register or nominate someone as your authorised agent you need to:

• complete Form 39a (available at www.gmwater.com.au)

• make sure all owners of the allocation account sign the form, and

• submit the form to GMW.

A list of water brokers with online water trading capabilities is available on our website www.gmwater.com.au/water-resources/water-trading

Online trading – it’s quick and easy

Please note these deadlines to make sure the water you use is deducted from the correct season’s allocation. They also help you and us with next year’s allocation planning.

Important dates

Last day for placing water orders to ensure delivery prior to the end of the irrigation season.

11 May

End of irrigation season for gravity areas.

15 May

Last day for land applications (delivery share and water use licence amalgamations and subdivisions) to be submitted to ensure they can be completed prior to 30 June.

29 May

Last day for placing delivery share transfer applications. This will ensure they are completed before final variable accounts are issued in June.

29 May

Last day for water share applications to be submitted to ensure processing prior to 30 June.

29 May

Last day for allocation trade applications to be submitted to ensure processing before 30 June.

19 June

If you are a diversions customer and use water after 30 April, advise your Diversions Inspector by this date.

19 June



We will be holding drop-in sessions to help you prepare for the end of the irrigation season. Our specialists will be available to explain any topic you may find confusing. They’ll also help you to plan for the end of season and make the most of your water allocation.

The drop-in session will be on the following dates:

End of season drop-in information sessions

Town date Time Location

Boort Wed 29 April 2015 10am - 2pm Boort Resource & Information CentreGodfrey Street, Boort 3537

Bright Wed 06 May 2015 10am - 1pm Alpine Shire CouncilCnr Churchill Avenue & Hawthorn Lane, Bright 3741

Cohuna Wed 29 April 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Office11 Tisdall Road, Cohuna 3568

Cobram Tue 5 May 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Customer Service Centre2 – 4 Dillon Street, Cobram 3644

Kerang Wed 29 April 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Kerang Customer Service Centre78 Kerang – Koondrook Road, Kerang 3579

Kyabram Tue 5 May 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Customer Service Centre79 McCormick Road, Kyabram 3620

Pyramid Hill Thu 30 April 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Customer Service Centre24 Barber Street, Pyramid Hill 3575

Rochester Fri 1 May 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Customer Service Centre41 High Street, Rochester 3561

Shepparton Thu 30 April 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Customer Service Centre21 Wheeler Street, Shepparton 3630

Swan Hill Wed 29 April 2015 9am - 4pm Temporary GMW Customer Service Centre13-19 Murlong Street, Swan Hill 3585

Tallangatta Fri 8 May 2015 10am - 1pm Towong Shire Council32 Towong Street, Tallangatta 3700

Tatura Fri 1 May 2015 9am - 4pm GMW Customer Service Centre40 Casey Street, Tatura 3616

Wangaratta Wed 29 April 2015 10am - 3pm GMW Customer Service Centre5 Murrell Street, Wangaratta 3677

Yea Tue 12 May 2015 10am - 1pm Goulburn Broken Catchment Management AuthorityShop 5 / 10 High Street, Yea 3717


If you are interested in providing advice to our Board on a range of operational matters why not nominate for one of our Water Services Committees (WSCs)?

We have 13 WSCs across the region whose members keep us informed on:

• local operational matters including water delivery, supply issues, metering and water quality

• advise on the mix of services and their costs of delivery

• use local knowledge and on-farm experience to identify opportunities to system, service and delivery improvements and efficiencies

• provide input and feedback on our local water resource management plans, along with our operating policies, procedures, tariff structures and customer billing arrangements.

Applications will soon be invited for vacancies on the following WSCs.

If there are more nominations than vacancies in a particular committee then a ballot will be held.

Successful nominees are appointed for a three-year term.

Information kits and nomination forms can be requested from our Customer Service Centres.

Nominations for Water Services Committees open soon

Nominations for positions

open Monday 11 May and close 5pm Friday22 May.

Committee Vacancies

Shepparton Irrigation Area 3

Loch Garry Flood Protection 0

Tungamah Water District 3

Goulburn-Broken Regional 0

Central Goulburn Irrigation Area 3

Rochester Irrigation Area 5

Loddon Valley Irrigation Area 3

Loddon Campaspe Regional 2

Loddon Water Districts 9

Murray Valley Irrigation Area 2

Kiewa/Mitta Mitta/Upper Murray Regional

0

Ovens/King/Mid Murray Regional 2

Torrumbarry Irrigation Area 2

Total 34


We want your feedback

We value your feedback on our performance and any suggestions that you may have on how we can improve.

Compliments

If you have had a good experience while dealing with us, we’d like to hear about it to ensure that we can continue to improve your experience with us.

Please call on free call 1800 013 357 or email [email protected] with your feedback and we will ensure that it is passed on to the relevant business unit or staff member.

Phone call us on free call1800 013 357

Email [email protected]

Mail Write to us and/or complete our web based complaints form and post to:

Customer Service CentreGoulburn-Murray WaterPO Box 165Tatura VIC 3616

Changes to our pricing from 1 July 2015

You may notice some changes to your customer account due to be sent out this July.

These changes have been made in consultation with Water Services Committees. The changes include detailed charges based on service point type and some pricing changes to reflect the costs of providing service to customers.

For more information about your account, visit the “my Account” page of our website.

Feedback and complaints

If you have a complaint please contact us:

More information about our feedback process is available at www.gmwater.com.au/customer-services/feedback

Please note this is also the process for feedback on the Connections project.



Sign up for these helpful e-services today

SMS remindersYou can choose to receive SMS reminders when your account is due for payment. To subscribe please text your name, account number and include the words‘I opt in’ to mobile number0488 144 144.

SMS allocations Have allocation announcements sent direct to your mobile phone. Subscribe via WaterLINE

SMS start/stop Receive reminders of when your water order is to start and stop. Subscribe via WaterLINE

WaterLINEOnline at www.gmwater.com.au to order water, adjust flow rates and duration – all with 24 hour convenience.

Email updatesOur electronic newsletter, eNews is emailed each month. eNews provides the latest news, updates on our projects and activities, key dates and advice in relation to your account, picture galleries, handy information on the irrigation season, storage levels, plus so much more. You can subscribe to eNews by visitingwww.gmwater.com.au/subscribe

e-dam levels:Have water storage levels emailed to you daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe at www.gmwater.com.au/subscribe

e-servicesOur expanding range of web, email and text message (SMS) services ensures everything you need is the click of a button away.

SMS Allocations: Allocation announcements sent direct to your mobile phone.

SMS Start/Stop: Reminders of when your water order is to start and stop.

Irrigation eNews: Allocation and irrigation updates emailed to you twice a month.

eDams: Water storage levels emailed to you daily, weekly or monthly.

Online Payments: To pay your G-MW account please visit our website at www. g-mwater.com.au

eStorage Update: The latest Land and On-Water Management Plan information emailed to you monthly.

WaterLINE:online or over the phone on 1300 GMW GMW

(1300 469 469) offers 24 hour accessto order water, adjust flow rates andduration.















































GMW Customer [email protected]

Phone1800 013 357

Website www.gmwater.com.au

Documents

End of Season Newsletter - gmwater.com.au€¦ · End of Season Newsletter 2014/2015 1 End of Season Newsletter 2014/2015 In this newsletter you will find tips to help you manage