Snowy River Water Flow



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SpeakersDella Bosca The Hon John
BusinessQuestions Without Notice


    SNOWY RIVER WATER FLOW
Page: 5861


    The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: Earlier in question time the Hon. Malcolm Jones asked me a question about the Snowy River flow. Snowy Hydro Ltd is required to have sufficient water to sustain farming communities over a seven-year to 10-year drought period. Each year the Snowy will release approximately 1,062 gigalitres to the Murray system and 1,026 gigalitres to the Murrumbidgee system. Each year that water is released without charge, as I indicated in my substantive answer, according to an agreed schedule as part of the Snowy Hydro Ltd water licence. Variation in timing is subject to commercial negotiation. There have been some further negotiations that have been very successful. In relation to the Snowy River, the 38 gigalitres released each year will have to be paid back to the Snowy's reserves from water savings made in the west. Some $300 million is provided by the New South Wales and Victorian governments to achieve that goal.