The 2022-23 Accounts marks the twentieth report of water entitlements, availability and use across Victoria. The image below shows how the report has developed and improved over the past two decades, responding to new information sources, changing community information needs and developments in technology.
More detail on the VWA timeline is outlined below.
2003-04
- The first VWA - the first State Water Report (later to become the Victorian Water Accounts) was released during 2005, in response to the National Water Initiative.
2007-08
- Peak of Millennium Drought - the lowest recorded inflows to Victorian storages occurred; total statewide storages ended the year at 15% full (June 2007).
- Victorian Water Register created - the Victorian Water Register, which records water entitlements and use, is a primary data source for the VWA.
2008-09
- Millennium Drought drives improved content presentation - the ongoing drought required improved communication of water management information. E.g. new graphics introduced to report performance against the government's T155 water efficiency program.
2010-11
- Water supply system accounting included - for the first time, the VWA provides accounts at a water supply system scale (e.g. town or irrigation district) from the source to the end use.
- Millennium Drought breaks - significant flooding occurred across Victoria to end the 13-year drought.
2012-13
- Groundwater accounting reported separately - a new framework for groundwater management facilitated detailed groundwater resource accounting separated from surface water for the first time.
2017-18
- VWA commences move to the digital age - a Highlights website provided some statewide data and an engaging explanation of the water entitlements framework, to reflect the changing preference of users to engage with information online.
2020-21
- Last PDF/printed report - the last written report produced; subsequent editions would be only in digital (website) form.
2021-22
- VWA released on comprehensive, interactive website - this purpose-built site replaced earlier, simpler websites and the report-form VWA, and presented all of the information in one place.
2022-23
- Highest total streamflow volume - large spring floods in a third consecutive La Niña year led to the largest total state streamflow volume in 20 years of VWA reporting.
