Opening allocation for SA River Murray irrigators announced
The 2026-27 opening water allocation for South Australian River Murray irrigators is 83 per cent.
This represents an increase from the projected minimum allocation of 62 per cent announced on 15 April, which was based on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s “worst case” water availability.
Allocations will be issued for use from 1 July 2026.
Under the water allocation plan (WAP) for the South Australian River Murray, which was developed in partnership with irrigators and other stakeholders, allocations are determined using a deliberately conservative approach to minimise the risk of allocations going backwards over a water year.
The higher opening allocation reflects improved water availability across the River Murray system. Further allocation improvements during 2026-27 remain possible, with most River Murray system inflows historically occurring between July and November.
Current projections indicate a high likelihood of allocations reaching 100 per cent under most scenarios. However, future improvements are not guaranteed, with the three-month Bureau of Meteorology outlook indicating that below-average rainfall is expected in parts of the Murray- Darling Basin.
As the projected minimum opening allocation for 2026-27 is greater than 50 per cent, irrigators will not be eligible to carry over any unused allocation volumes from 2025-26 into 2026-27. This is consistent with the rules in the WAP.
Fortnightly updates will be published from 1 July while allocations remain below 100 per cent.
Renee Thompson, the Department for Environment and Water’s Water Delivery Manager, said management of the River Murray was vital to ensuring the sustainability of the resource.
“The department makes a projected opening allocation announcement in April each year to help River Murray irrigators start planning for the upcoming year,” she said.
“The increase in the projection is good news for irrigators and should give them more confidence for decision-making.”
For more information visit the Department for Environment and Water’s website and the Murray- Darling Basin Authority website.
