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Southern Rural Water Exchange

If you wish to participate in water auction and sales within in the Macalister Irrigation District visit our trading platform.

Water sales

From time to time, Southern Rural Water is able to offer additional water for sale from its storages or through groundwater and surface water opportunities.

Opportunities to acquire new water entitlements

Southern Rural Water is able to offer additional water for sale through two main sources:

  1. Southern Rural Water is achieving water savings from the modernisation of its districts. Some of these savings are made available to customers as either temporary allocations or permanent water shares.
     
  2. New groundwater or surface water entitlements are available where the current licensed volume is lower than the specified limit.

The preferred government policy is to release this water via a sales process, to ensure equity. In the case of new groundwater and surface water entitlements, the sale process is usually preceded by an application process to determine the level of demand.

The water is typically sold via an auction, although sometimes water is placed ‘on-the-shelf (i.e. customers can apply for it at a predetermined fixed rate or ‘reserve’ price). Water not sold at auction is typically placed ‘on-the-shelf.’ 

The following principles guide the sales process:

  • Maximise availability: we will make water available as soon as possible, having regard to ease of provision and market conditions. This may involve a series of permanent (share) sales and temporary (allocation) sales in order to put the water into production.
  • Maximise the uptake: we seek to maximise the uptake by promoting sales and encouraging customer participation.
  • Fair market price: water will be sold at a fair price, having regard to the costs associated in making the water available (e.g. cost associated with resource appraisals, validations and the sales process) and prevailing market conditions.
  • Fair and open process: we seek to sell the majority of the water via an open and competitive process (e.g. auction or tender), albeit with the ability to reserve some water for ‘off the shelf sales’.

Each year Southern Rural Water publishes an annual water sales plan.

The volume of water offered varies from year to year and is dependent on a range of factors, including the volume of savings achieved through modernisation, the results of resources assessments and the outcomes of sales from the preceding year.

Irrigation Districts 

Source Potential pool (water savings ML) Notes* 2025-26 Future planning
2026-27 2027-28
     

Volume (ML)

Macalister Irrigation District 21,000 Future sales pool from balance of phase 1A (1,878ML), estimated phase 1B (10,000ML) and phase 2 (8,000ML). This forecast is consistent with our Price Submission of annual sales of 1,000ML in the Macalister Irrigation District. Demand assessments from existing customers will also inform potential for expansion into other areas (Southern Victoria irrigation Development investigation for the Avon area). 

1,000 High Reliability Water Shares

441 Low Reliability Water Shares

1,000 High Reliability Water Shares

441 Low Reliability Water Shares

1,000 High Reliability Water Shares

441 Low Reliability Water Shares

Werribee Irrigation District 5,600 Water savings are still in the process of being validated and converted to water shares. Once complete. seasonal allocation from the shares will be made available. These water savings are currently supporting the reliability of the system. Nil Nil Nil
Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District 1,200 Water savings are still in the process of being validated and converted to water shares. Once complete, seasonal allocation from the shares will be made available. These water savings are currently supporting the reliability of the system. Nil Nil Nil

 

*The volumes in the tables for the irrigation districts are gross volumes of water savings. The net volume may vary subject to audits and mitigation water requirements. High and low reliability water shares are issued from the water savings at the Minister’s discretion.

The timing of sales is not definite as they are contingent on the Minister’s approval and any conditions e.g. requirements to consult with customers and stakeholders such as traditional owners, and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s resources to process water savings approvals. 

Temporary seasonal allocation sales

Potential Allocation Pool (ML)^  

Source Potential Allocation pool (ML)^ Notes* 2025-26 Future planning

Volume ML

Macalister Irrigation District 878 Via series of online auctions 1,278**  

** Allocation sales volume is contingent upon availability, with potential volumes determined by permanent water sales results.


Groundwater and surface water

Higher priority sales 

Groundwater Potential pool (ML) Notes* 2025-26

Future planning 

Volume ML

Paaratte 1,447 Expression of interest in progress. 1,447  
Warrnambool 5,000 Expression of interest in progress. 5,000  
Newlingrook 17 Application pending. Expression of Interest planned 2025-26 17  
Corinella 1,888 Application pending. Expression of Interest planned 2025-26 1,888  
Surface water Potential pool (ML) Notes 2025-26

Future planning 
2026-27

Volume ML

Other East Gippsland catchments # 500 Application pending. Expression of Interest planned 2025-26.    
Latrobe River bulk entitlement reallocation 6,100 Spring sale proposed subject to customer consultation and EOI process. Sales likely to be staged with 2000ML available in year 1 with 1000 ML per year subsequently. Unsold water to be available on temporary market. 2,000 1,000

Lower priority sales

Groundwater Potential pool (ML) Notes* 2025-26

Future planning 

Volume ML

Frankston (UT aquifer)   Applications pending.
Timing subject to confirmation of T/O interest and process pathway.
  994
Boneo (LT aquifer) 800 Low opportunity to sell entitlement due to VCAT ruling about re-injection. Central and Gippsland SWS notes that the volume is available subject to the minister declaring the PCV.   800
Surface water (winterfill) ^ Potential pool (ML) * Notes 2025-26

Future planning 

Volume ML

Merri River # 80     80
Franklin River # 150     150
Albert River # 150     150
Two coastal areas of the Hopkins Basin (Buckley Creek, Nullawarre, and South of Tower Hill Lake) # 680     680
Ten Mile Ck # 300     300
Dividing Ck # 300     300
Nine Mile & Shady Ck # 300     300
Other catchments where water is still available under te SDL # 500     500
South Gippsland Basin Coast # 501     501
Genoa River # 500     500
Cann River # 500     500
Bass River # 300 Application pending. 
Timing subject to confirmation of T/O interest and process pathway.
  300
Powlett River # 500 Application pending. 
Timing subject to confirmation of T/O interest and process pathway.
  500
Surry River # 429.9 Application pending. 
Timing subject to confirmation of T/O interest and process pathway.
  429.9
Shaw/Eumeralla Rivers # 500 Application pending. 
Timing subject to confirmation of T/O interest and process pathway.
  500
Small coastal catchments of the Portland Coast Basin # 1,200 300ML in each of the four small coastal catchments between the Eumeralla River and Darlots Creek, and around Portland and Cape Bridgewater. 
Applications pending.
  1,200
Gellibrand River # 1,000 Application pending. 
Flow study in progress.
  1,000
Johanna, Milanesia & Brown Ck # 300     300
Aire River # 300     300
Parker to Skenes River # 300     300
Tambryn to Aireys Inlet # 90     90
Lake Colac # 2,600     2,600
Hopkins Basin coast # 680     680
Curdies River and the Port Campbell area # 50     50

* This is subject to Southern Rural Water's water sales policy and any allocations will be allocated consistent with all prevailing government policy including Water is Life.
^ Intention to treat these areas with demand investigations through 2025-2026. Any applications will be treated on their merits.
# Indicates winterfill restrictions apply on the available water. 
 


Private trades

If you need more water, or have spare water, you can seek to buy and sell (or trade, lease or temporarily transfer) water from other SRW customers in your irrigation district, system or zone.

Previous auction results

Water auctions are becoming more common across Southern Rural Water and can be a good way to gain access to extra water either for production or security.

See below for previous water auction results

Please refer to Water trading for more details.

  • Previous water auction results

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) permanent water share auction – 2 April 2025

    An auction of permanent water shares in the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) was conducted online Wednesday 2 April 2025, via the Southern Rural Water Exchange hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 1,000 megalitres (ML) high reliability water shares and 441 ML low reliability water shares were offered across 21 lots. These shares were sold without allocation for the 2024-25 season. The first allocation announcement will happen on 1 July 2025.  

    Seventy people registered for this auction and there were 15 unique bidders who participated in the online auction with the following results: 

    • Sixteen of the 21 lots sold.
    • Winning bids ranged from $ 3,010 to $2,950.00 per megalitre for the high and low reliability bundled lots, with an average of $ 2,971.00 per megalitre.
    • The lots comprising only high reliability shares sold between $3,000 to $ $2,800.00 per megalitre, with an average of $2,860 per megalitre.
       

    The lots comprising only low reliability shares sold between $170 to $213.64 per megalitre, with an average of $191.82 per megalitre.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) seasonal allocation auction – 5 March 2025

    The final supplementary seasonal allocation in the Macalister Irrigation District was conducted via the Southern Rural Water Exchange, hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 750 megalitres (ML) of 2024-25 seasonal allocation were offered across nine parcels, with parcel sizes ranging from 50 ML to 100 ML. 200 ML of the 750ML available was successfully sold, with the average winning bids of $14 per ML. 

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) seasonal allocation auction – 26 February 2025

    The sixth of six online auctions of seasonal allocation in the Macalister Irrigation District was conducted via the Southern Rural Water Exchange, hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 475 megalitres (ML) of 2024-25 seasonal allocation were offered across six parcels, with parcel sizes ranging from 50 ML to 100 ML. 50 ML of the 475ML available was successfully sold, with the winning bid of $22 per ML. The unsold parcels with a total volume of 425 ML will be offered in the supplementary auction on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) seasonal allocation auction – 12 February 2025

    The fifth of six online auctions of seasonal allocation in the Macalister Irrigation District was conducted via the Southern Rural Water Exchange, hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 475 megalitres (ML) of 2024-25 seasonal allocation were offered across six parcels, with parcel sizes ranging from 50 ML to 100 ML. 225 ML of the 475ML available were successfully sold, with winning bids ranging from $14 to $15 per ML, with an average of $14 per ML. The unsold parcels with a total volume of 250 ML will be offered in the supplementary auction on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) seasonal allocation auction - 29 January 2025

    The fourth of six online auctions of seasonal allocation in the Macalister Irrigation District was conducted via the Southern Rural Water Exchange, hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 475 megalitres (ML) of 2024-25 seasonal allocation were offered across six parcels, with parcel sizes ranging from 50 ML to 100 ML. 400 ML of the 475ML available were successfully sold, with winning bids ranging from $148 to $180 per ML, with an average of $162 per ML. The unsold parcel for 75 ML will be offered in the supplementary auction on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) seasonal allocation auction - 8  January 2025

    The third of six online auctions of seasonal allocation in the Macalister Irrigation District was conducted via the Southern Rural Water Exchange, hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 475 megalitres (ML) of 2024-25 seasonal allocation were offered across six parcels, with parcel sizes ranging from 50 ML to 100 ML. All parcels were sold, with winning bids ranging from $173 to $205 per ML, with an average of $189 per ML.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) seasonal allocation auction - 11 December 2024

    The second of six online auctions of seasonal allocation in the Macalister Irrigation District was conducted via the Southern Rural Water Exchange, hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 475 megalitres (ML) of 2024-25 seasonal allocation were offered across six parcels, with parcel sizes ranging from 50 ML to 100 ML. All parcels were sold, with winning bids ranging from $160 to $175 per ML, with an average of $168 per ML.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) seasonal allocation auction - 27 November 2024

    The first of six online auctions of seasonal allocation in the Macalister Irrigation District was conducted via the Southern Rural Water Exchange, hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 522 megalitres (ML) of 2024-25 seasonal allocation were offered across seven parcels, with parcel sizes ranging from 47 ML to 100 ML. All parcels were sold, with winning bids ranging from $161 to $168 per ML, with an average of $165 per ML.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) permanent water share auction - 26 June 2024

    An annual auction of permanent water shares in the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) was conducted online Wednesday 26 June 2024, via the Southern Rural Water Exchange hosted by Water Partners.

    A total of 1,000 megalitres (ML) high reliability water shares and 441 ML low reliability water shares were offered across 21 lots, with allocation from the beginning of the 2024-25 season.

    There were 28 unique bidders who participated in the online auction with the following results:

    • Winning bids ranged from $1,275 to $1,623 per megalitre for the 50% high and 50% low reliability bundled lots, with an average of $1,480 per megalitre.
    • The lots comprising only high reliability shares sold between $3,035 to $3,455 per megalitre, with an average of $3,326 per megalitre.
    • The lots comprising only low reliability shares sold between $133 to $275 per megalitre, with an average of $183 per megalitre.

     

    Mitchell River winterfill water auction – 7 Dec 2023

    An auction of take and use licences (under section 51) for the remaining 2,000 of unallocated Mitchell River winterfill was opened for 14 eligible bidders who registered via the expression of interest which closed 25 July 2023. The auction took place online on Thursday 7 December 2023.

    A total volume of 2,000 megalitres (ML) was offered in 22 lots, ranging in volume from 25ML to 250ML. 14 of the 22 lots reached their reserve and were sold. Winning bids ranged from $630 to $690 per ML. The average price was $651 per ML.

    The unsold lots were made available via the Southern Rural Water Exchange for application at the maximum auction price per ML of $690 per ML. All available lots are now accounted for, and no additional water is available in the Mitchell River catchment.

    Mitchell River winterfill water auction - 14 May 2021

    An auction of take and use licences (under section 51) for unallocated Mitchell River winterfill was opened on Wednesday 5 May 2021, for 24 eligible bidders. The auction was completed over three days from 12-14 May.

    A total volume of 1,990 megalitres (ML) was offered in 36 lots, ranging in volume from 30ML to 100ML. All lots had multiple bidders and were sold. Winning bids ranged from $630 to $841 per ML. The average price was $733 per ML.

    A total of 10 ML was made available for eligible stock and domestic applicants prior to the auction.

    Latrobe River temporary water sale - 27 November 2020

    In November, tenders were called for 800ML of temporary water from the Blue Rock Drought Reserve. The water was made available for sale by tender to customers on the Latrobe River system. One lot of 50ML sold for $40 per megalitre.

    Macalister Irrigation District (MID) permanent water share auction - 3 April 2020

    An annual auction of permanent water shares in the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) was conducted online Friday 3 April 2020, through WaterBid.

    A total of 92.8 megalitres (ML) high reliability water shares and 48.5 ML low reliability water shares were offered across 15 lots, all with allocation.

    Buyers were predominantly dairy, beef and fodder businesses in the MID.

    • Winning bids ranged from $2,672.50 to $2,805 per megalitre for the high and low reliability bundled lots, with an average of $2,734.44 per megalitre.
    • The lots comprising only high reliability shares sold between $2,555 to $2,658.92 per megalitre, with an average of $2621.28 per megalitre.

    Based on the results for the day the market is valuing low reliability water shares at an average of  $113 per megalitre.

    Dilwyn aquifer allocation auction - December 2019

    An auction of section 51 licences for a total allocation of 5,000 ML from the Dilwyn (deep) aquifer, near Warrnambool, were offered to registered bidders over the period from Tuesday 3 December 2019 to Wednesday 11 December 2019. The 15 lots offered ranged in size from 200ML to 500ML.  The auction was open for seven days and all lots were passed in after a total of 74 bids were placed, failing to meet the reserve.

    Tarwin River winterfill auction - June 2019

    An auction of Section 51 take and use licences for Tarwin River winterfill was completed 26-27 June. A total volume of 2,495ML was sold in 38 lots, ranging from 200ML to 5ML. All lots had multiple bidders, with some receiving over 40 bids. Prices ranged from $675 to $1,784 per ML. The average price was $1,494 per ML.

    Latrobe River auction - May 2019

    A further auction of temporary water from the Blue Rock Drought Reserve was made available for auction to customers on the Latrobe River system.  The auction offered 285 ML in 8 lots ranging in size from 10ML to 50 ML. Three lots totalling 200ML sold at auction, with one further lot of 50ML sold off-the-shelf. The water sold for an average of $31 per megalitre.

    Bacchus Marsh and Werribee Irrigation District auction - May 2019

    An auction for 230 megalitres (ML) of high reliability and 115 ML of low reliability water shares in the Bacchus Marsh and Werribee Irrigation Districts was conducted online between Tuesday 14 and Thursday 16 May 2019.  The lots were offered as: 26 lots of 5ML of HRWS with 2.5ML LRWS; and 5 lots of 20ML of HRWS with 10ML LRWS.  At the completion of the auction:

    • 26 lots were sold, ranging in size from 5ML high-reliability with 2.5 low-reliability water shares, to 20ML high reliability with 10ML low reliability water shares.
    • The results ranged between $1,000 and $1,405 per high and low combined megalitre.
    • 5 lots did not meet the reserve and were passed in.

    Latrobe River auction - April 2019

    A further auction of temporary water from the Blue Rock Dought Reserve was made available for auction to customers on the Latrobe River system.  The auction offered 900 ML in 14 lots ranging in size from 10ML to 150 ML. The water sold for an average of $55.57 per megalitre.

    Latrobe River auction - February 2019

    In response to drought conditions, temporary water from the Blue Rock Dought Reserve was made available for auction to customers on the Latrobe River system.  The auction offered 900 ML in 12 lots ranging in size from 25ML to 100 ML. The water sold for an average of $87.42 per megalitre.

    MID Permanent water share auction - 20 February 2019

    The auction for 269 megalitres (ML) of permanent water shares in the Macalister Irrigation District was completed 19 Feb at Southern Rural Water’s office in Johnson Street, Maffra.

    The lots were offered as high and low reliability bundles. There were successful bidders from dairy, beef and fodder enterprises in the district.

    • Prices ranged from a high of $2,200 per ML to $1,850 per ML
    • The average was $2,035 per ML