In encouraging news for South Australian irrigators and River Murray communities, the projected minimum opening water allocation is 82 per cent for the 2021-22 water year.
A new tool called the SA River Murray Water Calculator has also been launched today to help better inform decision making for irrigators.
Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said actual opening allocations will be announced on 15 June, but the projected opening allocations are looking much more positive than this time last year.
"To have a projected minimum water allocation of 82 per cent for the upcoming water year is encouraging news for South Australia's irrigators and will give them some business confidence," Minister Speirs said.
"Given this strong starting position and the forecast climate outlook, there is an excellent chance we will be starting the 2021-22 water year on 100 per cent.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is committed to ensuring the state's irrigators receive the best available information about the projected minimum opening allocations and allocation outlooks which is why we give advice as early as possible.
"As part of this commitment we have also launched the SA River Murray Water Calculator which will help inform decision making for irrigators.
"This Calculator has two main features – firstly there is a Personal Water Calculator to help you better understand how much water you could have under different circumstances to plan for the season ahead.
"Secondly, it includes a State Water Calculator to help irrigators better understand how the water available to South Australia is shared."
Late last year, an independent review was commissioned into the state's River Murray allocation announcement process.
"The independent reviewers consulted irrigator groups and found that the current allocation announcement process was working well," Minister Speirs said.
"This once again shows South Australia is leading the way when it comes to water management."
With the projected minimum opening allocation being greater than 50 per cent, the carryover trigger for 2021-22 has not been met.
This means that any water volumes rolled over from a previous year will no longer be available as outlined in the Water Allocation Plan for the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse.
For more information about these projections, or to access the new Water Calculator visit the Department for Environment and Water's website.
