About the area
The Upper Ovens River water supply protection area (WSPA) covers the fractured rock and unconsolidated sediment aquifers in the Upper Ovens River catchment, upstream of the confluence with the Buffalo River near Myrtleford, in north-east Victoria.
Rural centres within the WSPA's boundary include Myrtleford, Bright, Harrietville and Porepunkah.
The water authority responsible for managing groundwater in the Upper Ovens River WSPA is Goulburn-Murray Water.
The Upper Ovens River WSPA Water Management Plan applies jointly to surface water and groundwater up to a depth of 200 m in the area.
More information on the WSPA can be found on the Goulburn-Murray Water
Groundwater level trends
Table 1: Groundwater level trends, Upper Ovens River WSPA
Response to water availability
Groundwater restrictions
There were no restrictions on licensed use in the Upper Ovens River WSPA in 2024-25.
Entitlements and use
Groundwater entitlements have been issued for licensed (non-urban) use and urban supply to Bright in the Upper Ovens River WSPA. Groundwater is also available for domestic and stock use.
Entitlement volumes
Table 2: Groundwater entitlements at 30 June, Upper Ovens River WSPA
Available water and take
The table below shows the total water available and taken under entitlements, and estimated domestic and stock use in 2024-25. Total water available under entitlements is calculated as the sum of: opening carryover from the prior year (where available), allocation issued during the reporting year, and the net trade in or out of water, across all entitlements. The level of allocation issued is reduced if there are any restrictions in place.
Estimated domestic and stock use is calculated based on an assumed usage per registered bore per year. In this WSPA, the assumed usage is 2 ML per bore per year.
More information on groundwater use and availability has been detailed in How we account for
Table 3: Groundwater availability and take, Upper Ovens River WSPA
Compliance
Compliance against water entitlements is reported for this groundwater management unit (GMU) in 2 areas:
- entitlement issued: that the volume of entitlements issued in the GMU has not increased without appropriate approvals
- water extracted: that the volume of water taken under entitlements during the year does not exceed the total water available to licence holders.
Key points on compliance against entitlements in 2024-25
A permissible consumptive volume (PCV) is not required for the Upper Ovens River WSPA because the management plan prevents additional entitlements or an increase in entitlement volume from being issued, except by trade.
Increase in total entitlement volume
There was an allowed 24 ML net increase of entitlement volume from the previous year due to trade.
Total volume extracted under licences was within the available volume
The total volume extracted under licences (1,013 ML) was within the volume available for the year (2,814 ML).
Table 4: PCV vs total entitlement volumes, Upper Ovens River WSPA
Management responsibilities
Management of water in the Upper Ovens River WSPA is undertaken by Goulburn-Murray Water.
| Authority | Management responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Goulburn-Murray Water |
|
