July 2025 Trade Openings update
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The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) would like to provide an update about the upcoming July 2025 trade openings.
In response to consistently high demand during key trade events, in October 2024, the Victorian Water Register (VWR) temporarily moved to a randomisation approach rather than ‘first in, first served’ for the Goulburn to Murray trade openings. The approach reduces load on the VWR during the trade opening and ensures the opportunity is reliably made available to all market participants.
Following a review of these processes, DEECA will continue to use a randomisation approach for all Goulburn to Murray trade openings of 2025. Additionally, in partnership with WaterNSW, a joint randomisation process will be implemented for the 2025 Barmah trade opening.
Other smaller trade openings, including the Broken trade out limit (made available in July each year), will continue to operate without change. This is because the impact on reliable service delivery from the VWR isn’t as large as Barmah and Goulburn to Murray trade openings.
DEECA thanks users who provided feedback on the randomisation approach. A summary of feedback provided will be included in our next information update.
Key Information
- Scheduled Goulburn to Murray trade openings for July, October, and December 2025, will use the randomisation approach.
- July Barmah Trade Opening: Victoria and WaterNSW have developed a joint randomisation process, ensuring a unified approach regardless of the state of application.
- Eligibility Criteria Update: Applications selecting ‘trade remaining balance’ instead of a specific volume will be deemed ineligible for the randomisation pool. This change is detailed in the updated application procedure.
- Other Trade Openings, including the Broken trade out limit, will continue to operate on a first-in, first-served basis.
- More information including opening times and volumes for all trade openings will be announced in the lead up to the July events.
What does this mean for the July 2025 Barmah trade opening?
All eligible applications, irrespective of their state of origin, will be processed from a single, unified queue. Processing will follow the order established by the joint randomisation process to be undertaken by DEECA and WaterNSW.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is expected to announce the Barmah trade opportunity in the coming weeks, which will then be added to the available trade balance for the July Barmah Trade Opening.
PDF: New Trade Application Procedure (Victoria) (169 kb) PDF: Joint Protocol for Trade Application Submissions, Assessment and Processing (Victoria and NSW) (1.8 MB)
If you have any questions, contact us on waterregister.support@deeca.vic.gov.au.
2025 Barmah trade opening and seeking feedback on randomisation approach
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In October 2024, DEECA implemented a new randomisation processing approach for the October and December Goulburn to Murray trade openings. The approach was designed to provide market participants with reliable access to those trade openings as soon as possible.
DEECA is now reviewing how those openings went and seeking feedback from market participants on the trade application process and the randomisation approach. Market participants wanting to provide feedback to DEECA on the new approach can do so using this feedback form.
DEECA is now also working with its WaterNSW counterparts to deliver a reliable Barmah trade opening in July 2025. We are currently considering using a combined ‘single queue’ and randomisation process for applications for the 1 July Barmah trade opportunity. This would leverage the approach that Victoria used in the Goulburn to Murray trade openings last year and extend this so that it applies to applications received by both WaterNSW and the Victorian Water Register.
Both DEECA and WaterNSW are committed to working together to ensure reliable access to this year’s opening Barmah trade opportunity and a unified experience for customers from both Victoria and NSW.
Read more: 2025 Barmah trade opening and seeking feedback on randomisation approach
Users sought to have their say in new Victorian Water Register Focus Group
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The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is working to deliver improved Victorian Water Register (VWR) services. To ensure changes are designed and implemented with users in mind, a focus group is being established to inform the process and assist community engagement.
The VWR is a vital platform for Victoria’s water users and water market participants. It allows access to a range of online services.
The focus group will play an important part in the evolution of VWR services. Members will be a key point of contact for DEECA staff to receive direct feedback when considering changes to VWR services, systems and processes. Feedback will help ensure VWR changes are designed and implemented with consideration of end user needs and the impact of changes are understood and accounted for.
Read more: Users sought to have their say in new Victorian Water Register Focus Group
New trade transparency data released for frequent traders and large water owners
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Frequent Trader and Large Water Owner information published on 15 January 2025.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has published two water trade information reports on the Victorian Water Register website. These are:
- Large Water Owners – the names of individuals and companies that own more than 2% of high-reliability water shares in the Goulburn or the Murray systems above and below the Barmah Choke, as of 1 July 2024.
- Frequent Traders – the names of individuals and companies that have made more than 20 priced allocation trades (bought or sold) within, from or to the Goulburn water system and/or the Murray water system during the 2024–25 water year (as of 31 December 2024).
Read more: New trade transparency data released for frequent traders and large water owners
Release of Goulburn to Murray Post Trade Opportunity Opening Report – December 2024
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The release of the Goulburn to Murray Post Trade Opportunity Opening Report, December 2024, summarises the outcomes from this trade opening and consolidates information available via the Victorian Water Register website with some additional data around the number of unique allocation accounts that traded. It provides insights into the number, volumes and reason for trade for all applications submitted.
Read more: Release of Goulburn to Murray Post Trade Opportunity Opening Report – December 2024
Important information: Estimated volume announced for Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity on 16 December
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The next release of seasonal trade opportunity from the Goulburn to the Murray system opens on Monday 16 December. Based on current estimates, approximately 9 GL of Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity will be released.
The randomisation approach implemented for the rescheduled October opening will be used again in December.
Important information – Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity for 16 December 2024
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Important information – Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity for 16 December 2024
The Goulburn to Murray Trade Limit—which governs allocation trade from the Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe and Loddon systems to the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia—will open again on Monday 16 December 2024. Estimated volumes will be made public closer to this date.
The randomisation approach implemented for the rescheduled October opening will be used again in December.
Read more: Important information – Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity for 16 December 2024
Release of post-trade opening report – Goulburn to Murray October opening
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The release of the October 2024 post-trade report summarises the findings from October Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity and consolidates information available via the Victorian Water Register website with some additional data around the number of unique allocation accounts that traded. It provides insights into the number, volumes and reason for trade for all applications submitted.
The rescheduled Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity opened on Thursday 14 November 2025 at 7 am with an opening limit of around 45 gigalitres. The Victorian Water Register received around 400 applications from market participants. Trade applications were received during a 5-hour submission window on 14 November. Eligible applications were then randomised to determine a processing order. Goulburn Murray Water and Lower Murray Water began processing the applications in that processing order from 7 am Friday 15 November.
Read more: Release of post-trade opening report – Goulburn to Murray October opening
Important information – change to scheduled My Water outage
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The rescheduled October Goulburn to Murray trade event took place yesterday on Thursday 14 November. The Victorian Water Register received around 400 applications from market participants. Goulburn Murray Water and Lower Murray Water began processing these applications from 7 am this morning (Friday 15 November).
Due to the number of applications received, processing is predicted to finish later than originally communicated.
The previously communicated My Water and Broker Portal outage at 4:30 pm today will now occur later this evening once processing has been completed. My Water and Broker Portal will be offline for around 30 minutes before the system is re-opened for normal business.
Read more: Important information – change to scheduled My Water outage
Reminder: Rescheduled October Trade opportunity this Thursday 14 November
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The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) reminds water market participants about the timings of this Thursday’s rescheduled Goulburn to Murray trade opening. As previously advised, DEECA is implementing a randomisation processing approach for the rescheduled opening.
- Applications for the Goulburn to Murray opportunity should be submitted during the submission window, between 7 am and 12 pm Thursday 14 November.
- During the submission window, all trade applications will be referred to manual processing.
- All Goulburn to Murray trade applications will continue to be referred to manual processing until the system returns to normal business at 5 pm 15 November.
- Manual processing of randomised Goulburn to Murray trade applications will occur on Friday 15 November 2024.
- My Water and the Broker Portal will be offline for 30 minutes at 4:30 pm 15 November before the system is re-opened for normal business.
Read more: Reminder: Rescheduled October Trade opportunity this Thursday 14 November
Rescheduled October Trade opportunity – webinar and updated FAQs now available
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Release of Webinar video
Last week, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) conducted two webinars with water market participants. The two identical webinars were conducted on Thursday 31 October at 2 pm and 7 pm to inform the market about the new process that will be in place for the rescheduled October Goulburn to Murray trade opening, which is to now take place on Thursday, 14 November.
DEECA has now released video of the first of these webinars, which can be viewed using the link below. Users can also download the presentation and transcript.
Read more: Rescheduled October Trade opportunity – webinar and updated FAQs now available
Rescheduled October Trade opportunity – New process information
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Earlier this week, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) announced a rescheduled Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity opening for Thursday 14 November 2024.
This followed a disruption during the original 15 October 2024 submission window.
DEECA is implementing a new randomisation processing approach for the rescheduled opening. The approach was designed to provide market participants with reliable access to the October Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity as soon as possible. It will not alter the way water market participants submit trade applications.
Read more: Rescheduled October Trade opportunity – New process information
Important information – Goulburn to Murray trade opening rescheduled to 14 November 2024
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DEECA is announcing that the rescheduled Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity will take place on Thursday, 14 November 2024, using a new application processing approach. This approach is designed to improve user experience and ensure market stability during trade openings. We will implement a two-stage approach to processing applications to address the instability in the current processing method when large numbers of trade applications are submitted simultaneously.
Read more: Important information – Goulburn to Murray trade opening rescheduled to 14 November 2024
Goulburn to Murray October 2024 trade opportunity disrupted – update
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On 15 October 2024, the scheduled Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity was postponed after a technical disruption during the submission window. No applications were approved during this time, and application fees paid were refunded.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) apologises for the inconvenience and thanks market participants for their patience following this announcement.
Read more: Goulburn to Murray October 2024 trade opportunity disrupted – update
Celebrating 20 years of the Victorian Water Accounts
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DEECA releases the 20th edition of Victorian Water Accounts with the latest report.
We are excited to announce the release of the 2022–23 Victorian Water Accounts.
The Victorian Water Accounts are a trusted data source on water availability and use.
There are now 20 years of this annual report available, covering dry periods such as the Millennium Drought, and also periods of flooding. This long record of trend data is useful for researchers, policy makers and water users in general.
Read more: Celebrating 20 years of the Victorian Water Accounts
October 2024 seasonal trade opportunity disrupted
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We regret to inform you that a disruption to the Victorian Water Register online portals (MyWater and Broker Portal) occurred during the application submission window for the 15 October 2024 trade opportunity. The unforeseen circumstances have caused disruption to the submission and processing of the Goulburn to Murray trade opening.
As a result of this, and as we investigate the cause of the issue, the trade opportunity scheduled for Tuesday 15 October 2024 has been postponed.
Read more: October 2024 seasonal trade opportunity disrupted
Important information: Volume announced for Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity on 15 October 2024
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The next release of seasonal trade opportunity from the Goulburn to the Murray system opens for submission on Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 10:00 am AEST. Based on current estimates, approximately 45 GL of Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity will be released.
Release of latest Victorian Water Brokers audit report 2022–23
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The Victorian Government is committed to transparency for water market participants and actively overseeing water market operations to ensure their ongoing effectiveness. The release of the 2022–23 annual brokers audit underscores this commitment.
This audit provides oversight of compliance with government rules for using the Victorian Water Register's online Broker Portal and API. The audit also checks the brokers' compliance of their responsibilities to their clients.
The Department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action engaged independent auditor RSM for the 2022–23 annual audit. RSM audited all 26 intermediary firms that used the Broker Portal or API during 2022–23 to determine how they complied with the Victorian Water Register online Broker Portal use agreement and rules.
Read more: Release of latest Victorian Water Brokers audit report 2022–23
Important information – Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity for 15 October 2024
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The Goulburn to Murray Trade Limit—which governs allocation trade from the Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe and Loddon systems to the Victorian Murray system, New South Wales and South Australia—will open again on Tuesday 15 October 2024. This follows the previous Goulburn to Murray trade opening on 2 July and is the second of three Goulburn to Murray trade openings for the 2024–25 water year. Estimated volumes will be made public closer to this date.
Read more: Important information – Goulburn to Murray trade opportunity for 15 October 2024
Water Market Reform: New Commonwealth government obligations for data accuracy on trade forms are now in effect
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From 1 July 2024 there are new Commonwealth requirements on people trading water.
All information provided by water markets participants in a trade or transfer application form must be comprehensive and accurate. There is also an obligation to keep certain records for five years. Click here to read about what this means for Victorians.
The Inspector-General of Water Compliance has put together FAQs on these new obligations; you can find these here. To find out more information please visit Water market reform – DCCEEW.