Chapter 2. ’s North and Murray water resource plan area

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

2. Victoria’s North and Murray water resource plan area The Basin Plan establishes average long-term sustainable diversion limits for 110 surface and groundwater SDL resource units located across the Murray-Darling Basin.

The following text is preliminary accredited text for Basin Plan clause 10.02(1):

Victoria’s North and Murray Water Resource Plan applies to:

Victorian Murray water resource plan area:

• Victorian Murray SDL resource unit (SS2)

• Kiewa SDL resource unit (SS3)

Northern Victoria water resource plan area:

• Ovens SDL resource unit (SS4)

• Broken SDL resource unit (SS5)

• Goulburn SDL resource unit (SS6)

• Campaspe SDL resource unit (SS7)

• Loddon SDL resource unit (SS8)

Goulburn Murray water resource plan area:

• Goulburn Murray: Irrigation SDL resource unit (GS8a)

• Goulburn Murray: Highlands SDL resource unit (GS8b)

• Goulburn Murray: Sedimentary Plain SDL resource unit (GS8c)

• Goulburn Murray: deep SDL resource unit (GS8d)

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The Victorian Murray and Northern Victoria water resource plan areas for surface and the Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area for groundwater are shown in Figure 2-1 along with Victoria's other water resource plan areas in the -.

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Murray-Darling Basin water Murray-Darling Basin resource plan areas - groundwater water resource plan areas - surface water Wimmera-Mallee (groundwater) Victorian Murray water resource plan area water resource plan area Northern Victoria water resource plan area Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area Wimmera-Mallee (surface water) water resource plan area Catchment Management Authority boundaries (VIC) Key watercourses Towns

Mildura

MALLEE CMA

Swan Hill

Albury NORTH CENTRAL CMA Shepparton NORTH EAST CMA WIMMERA CMA Horsham

GOULBURN BROKEN CMA

Ballarat Hamilton Traralgon CORANGAMITE Portland WEST

0 25 50 100

Kilometres

Figure 2-1: Victoria’s water resource plan areas for surface and groundwater

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2.1 Surface water boundaries

The surface water component of Victoria’s North and Murray water resource plan area includes seven basins in Division IV, Murray-Darling Basin, of the Australian Water Resources Council Drainage Basins as shown in Figure 2-2.

Murray-Darling Basin water resource plan areas - surface water AWRC River basins Victorian Murray water resource plan area Towns Northern Victoria water resource plan area

Mildura Key watercourses Victoria

MALLEE BASIN

AVOCA RIVER BASIN

BROKEN RIVER BASIN Wodonga LODDON BASIN RIVER BASIN UPPER MURRAY Shepparton RIVER BASIN

Horsham Bendigo BASIN

CAMPASPE BASIN RIVER BASIN

0 25 50 100

Kilometres

Figure 2-2: Victoria’s North and Murray water resource plan area for surface water and corresponding AWRC drainage divisions and river basins

2.1.1 Victorian Murray water resource plan area

The River Murray forms the border with and Victoria and both states share the volume of water held in the MDBA storages as specified by the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement. The Victorian Murray water resource plan area includes the Victorian Upper Murray basin (including the Mitta Mitta and Kiewa basins). The Victorian Murray SDL resource unit also includes irrigation areas that source water from the Victorian Murray. These include the Murray Valley, Torrumbarry Irrigation Areas and the , Tresco, , Mildura, Nyah, Red Cliffs and Irrigation Districts, any stock and domestic pipelines and private diverters which take water from the River Murray and Lake . For more information see section 4.2.3.

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Table 2-1: Victorian Murray water resource plan area

Water Resource Plan SDL Resource Unit SDL resource unit Australian Water Area name name code Resources Council (AWRC) Drainage Basins – Murray Darling Division IV

Victorian Murray Victorian Murray SS2 1 water resource plan area Kiewa SS3 2

2.1.1.1 Victorian Murray (includes Mitta Mitta) basin

The upper takes in the headwaters of the Murray and its many tributaries from Victoria and New South Wales. The main Victorian tributaries of the upper Murray River are Cudgewa and Corryong Creeks. The also sits in the Victorian Murray basin, the river rises on the high plains beneath Mount Bogong, the upper reaches and tributaries drain through deeply dissected forests. The main channel of the Mitta Mitta River forms at the of and the Big River, and then flows northwards through near- pristine forest to Dartmouth Reservoir. Dartmouth Reservoir is the largest storage in the Murray- Darling Basin and has the capacity to hold up to 40 per cent of the water for the River Murray system. After Dartmouth Reservoir, the Mitta Mitta meanders north-west through a wide valley to the south arm of Dam.

The Mitta Mitta catchment is less than one per cent of the area of the Murray–Darling Basin, but it provides almost 10 per cent of inflows to the River Murray system. Very little of the water generated in the catchment is used within the catchment.

The Mitta Mitta River is a declared heritage river area in its mountain reaches, from Glen Valley to Lake Dartmouth. For more information see section 4.2.1.

2.1.1.2 Kiewa basin

The main channel of the Kiewa River is formed on a narrow floodplain at Mount Beauty and flows north through farmland in a widening valley towards the River Murray.

Although it is the smallest catchment in the Murray-Darling Basin, the upstream branches of the Kiewa supply water to Victoria’s largest hydroelectric scheme and make a major contribution to flows below Lake Hume in the River Murray and for irrigators downstream. For more information see section 4.2.2.

2.1.2 Northern Victoria water resource plan area

The surface water component of the Northern Victoria water resource plan area includes five basins in Division IV, Murray-Darling Basin, of the Australian Water Resources Council Drainage Basins as shown in Figure 2-2.

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Table 2-2: Northern Victoria water resource plan area SDL units and AWRC drainage basins

Water Resource Plan SDL Resource Unit SDL resource unit AWRC Drainage Area name name code Basins – Murray Darling Division IV

Northern Victoria Ovens SS4 3 water resource plan area Broken SS5 4

Goulburn SS6 5

Campaspe SS7 6

Loddon SS8 7

2.1.2.1 Ovens basin

The Ovens system rises in the near and flows about 191 km before joining the River Murray in the backwaters of Lake Mulwala. Two small water storages have been constructed in the system: Lake Buffalo on the and Lake on the . The regulated reaches of the Ovens system include the Buffalo River downstream of Lake Buffalo, the King River downstream of Lake William Hovell and the Ovens River from its confluence with the Buffalo River to the River Murray.

The Ovens system maintains a larger proportion of its natural flow regime than other regulated rivers, particularly in winter and spring. This is a result of relatively small storages that spill regularly and allow unregulated flows to the rivers.

The Lower Ovens River is a declared heritage river beginning at Killawaara, downstream of Wangaratta. For more information see section 4.3.1.

2.1.2.2 Broken basin

The flows from headwaters in the western slopes of the near Bald Hill, north mainly through farmlands. Lake Nillahcootie is the Broken system’s only storage which regularly spills in spring because of its relatively small size compared to the river’s average annual flow.

The Broken River flows north from Lake Nillahcootie and joins Holland Creek near . It splits north of Benalla at Casey’s Weir, with the west branch joining the Goulburn River just south of Shepparton, and the other branch flowing north to form the Broken Creek. Casey’s Weir plays an important role in directing water down the Broken Creek.

The Broken Creek is managed as two separate systems: the Upper Broken Creek from Casey’s Weir to the confluence of the Broken and Boosey Creeks, and the Lower Broken Creek which flows into the River Murray downstream of the Barmah National Park.

The Lower Broken Creek supplies the Murray Valley Irrigation Area. It mainly sources water from the River Murray so is not considered part of the Broken Basin. This area includes the Barmah National Park. For more information see section 4.3.2.

2.1.2.3 Goulburn basin

The Goulburn River flows for 570 kilometres from the Great Dividing Range upstream of Woods Point to the River Murray east of . The Goulburn is one of the largest tributaries of the River Murray.

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The Goulburn River is one of the most regulated rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin and the construction and operation of Lake Eildon and Goulburn Weir have significantly altered the river’s natural flow pattern. Water harvesting during naturally wet periods and regulated releases to meet irrigation and other consumptive demand during dry periods mean flow downstream of these structures is typically low in winter and spring and high in summer and autumn. This effectively reverses the natural seasonal flow pattern.

Lake Eildon in the upper part of the catchment captures inflows from the , the , and the . The Goulburn River runs west and north of Lake Eildon and takes in water from a large number of tributaries such as the , Sevens Creek and the Broken River. Goulburn Weir is located between Murchison and Nagambie and water is harvested from here into Waranga Basin then diverted to the Central Goulburn, Shepparton and Rochester, Loddon Valley Irrigation Districts. It also supplies Tungamah, East Loddon, West Loddon and Normanville water districts. Water can be transferred through the channel system to Murray Valley and Torrumbarry Irrigation Areas.

The regulated flow regime in the Goulburn River is partly ameliorated by inflows from tributaries like and the Broken River that provide some natural flows downstream of Lake Eildon and Goulburn Weir. Large floods which enter the Goulburn River downstream of Lake Eildon can be passed over the Goulburn Weir and these are important for the flow regime of the Lower Goulburn River. For more information see section 4.3.3.

2.1.2.4 Campaspe basin

The rises in wooded hilly terrain of the Great Dividing Range, descends through undulating foothills and emerges onto the wide, flat riverine plains of northern Victoria. The Campaspe’s main tributary is the which rises in Victoria’s Central Highlands and joins the Campaspe River at .

The Coliban River and Campaspe River are highly regulated and the construction and operation of Lake Eppalock has significantly altered downstream river flows and reversed seasonal flows.

The Coliban River basin contains Malmsbury, Upper Coliban and Lauriston Reservoirs harvesting water mainly for urban supplies. For more information see section 4.3.4.

2.1.2.5 Loddon basin

The has its headwaters in Victoria’s Central Highlands between Daylesford and Woodend. It is the second longest river in Victoria and has many tributaries.

Tullaroop Creek is the main tributary in the upper Loddon system. The middle section of the river includes Serpentine Creek and has many distributary streams and anabranches flowing north across a broad floodplain.

The river is not regulated below the Loddon Weir and it can become disconnected in dry conditions. The lower part of the Loddon is joined by Pyramid Creek at and here the Loddon becomes part of the River Murray floodplain. This part of the Loddon River is within the Torrumbarry Irrigation Area which is sourced from the River Murray and considered part of the River Murray basin. For more information see section 4.3.5.

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2.2 Groundwater boundaries

Groundwater is water in pores and crevices of rocks and soil beneath the earth’s surface. The layers of soil and rock that contain useable quantities of groundwater are called aquifers and these lie beneath all parts of Victoria. The groundwater within aquifers varies in quality from fresh drinking water to water which is saltier than seawater.

Shallow groundwater resources are connected to surface waters and are affected by drought and climate change. Deep groundwater reserves are more resilient to changes in rainfall, but it can take many years to refill deep aquifers.

2.2.1 Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area

Under the Basin Plan, groundwater resources in the Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area are divided into four SDL resource units. Table 2-3 shows the SDL resource units that make up the Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area.

Table 2-3: Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area SDL units

Water Resource SDL Resource Unit SDL Water resources within each SDL Plan Area name name resource resource unit unit code

Goulburn- Goulburn-Murray: GS8a All groundwater in the Shepparton Murray water Shepparton Irrigation Region Water Supply resource plan Irrigation Region Protection Area to a depth of area (item 1) 25 metres below the land surface

Goulburn-Murray: GS8b All groundwater in the outcropping Highlands (item 2) Palaeozoic rocks (or the in situ weathered horizon where it is within 5 metres of the surface) from the land surface to 200 metres below the surface

Goulburn-Murray: GS8c All groundwater from the land Sedimentary Plain surface to 200 metres below the (item 3) surface or 50 metres below the base of the Tertiary sediments, whichever is the deeper, excluding groundwater in item 2

Goulburn-Murray: GS8d All groundwater, excluding deep (item 4) groundwater in items 2, 3 and 4

Groundwater in the Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area is found in shallow and deep aquifers that vary in character and connectivity. Fresh groundwater is extracted for urban and domestic and stock use as well as irrigation. Some shallow and saline aquifers across the floodplains are a threat to productivity and natural assets and are managed with pumping. Several groundwater systems are important elements of the river and wetland ecosystems.

The Victorian Groundwater Management Framework consists of groundwater catchments, Groundwater Management Areas and Water Supply Protection Areas. Collectively these are known as Groundwater Management Units. The Victorian part of the Murray-Darling Basin is divided into the Wimmera-Mallee and Avoca catchments managed by Wimmera Mallee Water (GWMWater) and the Goulburn-Murray catchment managed by Goulburn–Murray Water.

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The Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area includes the following groundwater catchments (see Figure 2-3):

• Upper Murray groundwater catchment • Ovens groundwater catchment • Goulburn-Broken groundwater catchment • Campaspe groundwater catchment • Loddon groundwater catchment

Groundwater management basin Gippsland Basin Goulburn-Murray Basin (Murray Basin) Otway-Torquay Basin , Westernport, Tarwin (Central Basin) Mildura Wimmera Mallee Basin (Murray Basin) Groundwater catchment Towns

Swan Hill AVOCA WEST WIMMERA Wodonga

WIMMERA Shepparton MALLEE CAMPASPE Wangaratta UPPER Horsham MURRAY GOULBURN BROKEN OVENS Bendigo

LODDON GLENELG CENTRAL EAST PORT GIPPSLAND PHILLIP BAY HOPKINS CORANGAMITE PORTLAND MOE

SEASPRAY TARWIN 0 50 100 200

OTWAY WEST PORT TORQUAY PHILLIP BAY WESTERNPORT Kilometres

Figure 2-3: Victoria’s groundwater management basins and groundwater catchments

In Victoria, Groundwater Management Units (GMU) define areas where specific rules are used to manage the resource to meet the needs of groundwater users and the environment. The two types of Groundwater Management Units are Water Supply Protection Areas and Groundwater Management Areas. Figure 2-4 shows Victorian Groundwater Management Units and corresponding Goulburn-Murray Water Resource Plan area as at 1 February 2017.

2.2.1.1 Water Supply Protection Areas

A Water Supply Protection Area is an area declared under the Victorian Water Act to protect the groundwater or surface water resources through the development of a statutory management plan.

2.2.1.2 Groundwater Management Areas

A Groundwater Management Area is an area where groundwater has been intensively developed or has the potential to be developed. These areas have defined boundaries to set a permissible consumptive volume (PCV) for ongoing management.

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Goulburn-Murray Eildon Shepparton Irrigation water resource plan area Kiewa Strathbogie Water supply protection area Lower Ovens Towns Mid Goulburn Upper Murray Mid Loddon West Goulburn Barnawartha Bungaree Broken Central Victorian Mineral Springs .! SWAN HILL

SHEPPARTON IRRIGATION BARNAWARTHA

.! MID LODDON MID .! .! WANGARATTA KIEWA UPPER GOULBURN BROKEN MURRAY

WEST GOULBURN LOWER BENDIGO OVENS .! STRATHBOGIE

CENTRAL VICTORIAN MINERAL SPRINGS UPPER EILDON GOULBURN

0 25 50 100

BUNGAREE Kilometres

Figure 2-4: Victorian Groundwater Management Units and corresponding Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area as at 1 February 2017

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