About the area
The East Gippsland basin covers the eastern-most point of Victoria. Most of the basin is mountainous and forested; there are small sections of farmland including around Cann River.
Major waterways within the basin include the Genoa, Wingan, Cann, Bemm, Betka and Thurra Rivers.
Average annual rainfall within the basin is between 900-1200 mm.
More information on water management and accounting is detailed in Water explained.
2022-23 overview
Available water
Catchment inflow was lower than the previous year.
Licensed diversion restrictions
There were no restrictions on licensed diversions, the same as the previous year.
Water use
A similar volume of water was diverted for consumptive purposes as the previous year.
When compared to the previous year, in 2022-23:
- less rainfall was received and catchment inflow was lower
- licensed diversion restrictions were the same with no restrictions on licensed diversions from unregulated streams
- a similar volume of water was diverted from the basin for consumptive uses.
Climate
Rainfall
In 2022-23, rainfall across the entire East Gippsland basin was close to the long-term average, and lower than the previous year.
Figure 1 displays the rainfall received in 2022-23 compared to the long-term average (1975-2023).
Figure 1: Rainfall deciles, East Gippsland basin
Sourced from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology
River basin water balance
This section describes the known and estimated inflows, outflows and change of storage volumes in the basin.
Consumptive use in the basin is generally very low compared to water availability, and almost 100% of total inflows passed to Bass Strait in 2022-23.
Water balance table
The table below shows the total volumes of water available and supplied from water resources in the East Gippsland basin in 2022-23.
Table 1: Water balance, East Gippsland basin
Inflows
Catchment inflow
Catchment inflow represents the volume of water flowing into the waterways of a basin. It is calculated as the total outflows and change in storage minus the known inflows.
Inflows received by the East Gippsland basin were less than the previous year, although still above the long-term average. Inflows of 1,272,113 ML were received (148% of the long-term average of 857,700 ML), compared to 2,844,709 ML in the previous year (332% of the long-term average).
Above average inflow
Catchment inflow was 148% of the long-term average of 857,700 ML.
Less water received than previous year
Catchment inflow was lower than the previous year (332% of the long-term average).
Wastewater treatment plants
Water treated at wastewater treatment plants can be used to supplement water available in the basin. Water discharged to waterways from treatment plants is included as an inflow to the water balance.
Information on treatment plants is reported in the water supply local reports for the water corporation responsible for managing the plant.
In this basin, wastewater treatment plants are managed by East Gippsland Water.
Outflows
Diversions
In 2022-23, 676 ML of water was diverted for consumptive uses: town, domestic and stock, irrigation and commercial supply. This was less than the 801 ML diverted in the previous year.
Small catchment dams
Water harvested, used, and lost by small catchment dams (farm dams) is included in the water balance.
Table 2: Small catchment dams, East Gippsland basin
Entitlements and compliance
Entitlements provide the basis for how water is shared in the basin.
Entitlement volumes
Rights to water in the East Gippsland basin are shown in Table 3.
Entitlement volumes represent a maximum volume of water that can be taken in a one-year period. The volume available in a particular year is dependent on the rules for allocating water set out in the entitlement and the seasonal conditions in that year, which can vary. The rules for allocating water under an entitlement differ between entitlements and systems. This affects the ability and likelihood of water being taken in a particular year.
Table 3: Annual entitlement volumes at 30 June, East Gippsland basin
Available water and take under entitlements
Total water available under entitlements represents the volume of water that was available to be taken by entitlement holders in 2022-23. The volume includes seasonal allocations and net trade into the basin.
Water taken
There was 181 ML taken under entitlements in 2022-23, the same as the previous year.
Restrictions on licensed diversions from unregulated streams
There were no restrictions on licensed diversions from unregulated streams in 2022-23, the same as during the previous year.
Available water and take table
This table shows the volume of available water and the volume taken under entitlements in 2022-23.
More information on available water and take has been detailed in How we account for surface
In 2022-23, the same volume of water was taken under entitlements as the previous year.
Table 4: Available water and take under entitlements, East Gippsland basin
Compliance
Compliance against water entitlements is reported for this basin in 3 areas:
- entitlement issued: that the volume of entitlements issued in a basin does not exceed formal caps, and has not increased without appropriate approvals
- water taken: that the volume of water taken during the year does not exceed the volume considered to be available for consumptive and/or in-stream use during that year
- bulk entitlement provisions: that holders of entitlements do not breach any provisions that are documented in their bulk entitlement orders.
Total entitlement volume
There was no net increase in the total entitlement volume from the previous year.
Total volume diverted
The total volume diverted under entitlements (181 ML) was within the volume available for the year (1,455 ML).
Individual bulk entitlements
No individual bulk entitlement holder took more than the annual volume made available to them.
Exceptions to compliance
Individual bulk entitlement holders complied with all provisions in their entitlements.
Water for the environment
Environmental watering sites
There are no environmental entitlements in the East Gippsland basin, so no active environmental watering occurs.
However, important sites and environmental values in the East Gippsland basin that depend on water for the environment include:
- the Bemm, Cann and Genoa rivers, that all feed into high-value wetlands
- the Sydenham, Tamboon and Mallacoota inlets (all nationally significant wetlands)
- pristine estuaries, heritage river reaches and the swamp skink, Australian grayling, Australian bass, tangle orchid and eastern curlew.
Environmental water reserve
In 2022-23, water for the environment in the East Gippsland basin comprised:
- water set aside for the environment through:
- flow-sharing arrangements set out in bulk entitlements held by East Gippsland Water
- the operation of passing flow conditions on licensed diversions
- all other water in the basin not allocated for consumptive uses: this water also provides social, recreational and cultural benefits.
Management responsibilities
Management of water in the East Gippsland basin is undertaken by various parties.
| Authority | Management responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Southern Rural Water |
|
| East Gippsland Water |
|
| East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority |
|
| Water supply system | 2021-22 (ML) | 2022-23 (ML) |
|---|---|---|
| Bemm River | 13 | 12 |
| Cann River | 25 | 34 |
| Mallacoota | 26 | 46 |
