Victoria is adopting a new approach to water delivery entitlements that will empower water users to manage their own delivery risks in declared systems. Changes are due to come into effect by July 2023.

The new approach does not affect anyone’s water shares, it simply clarifies their right (entitlement) to have that water delivered.

The changes will:

• Give water users more certainty about their rights to have water delivered down our rivers and enable more flexibility to manage their own delivery risks.
• Enable the Minister to make rules to cap and allow for the trade of these delivery rights.
• Protect the rights of existing entitlement holders in water systems where delivery risks are increasing.
• Give water users confidence there are strong penalties to protect them from impacts of others taking more than their fair share during any river rationing.

As part of a broader program of communication and engagement, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is creating a ‘Place of Take Approvals Consultative Committee’. The Committee will be made up of private water users in water systems where the changes will occur, and their advice will help shape the implementation and communication of the new approach. If you are interested in submitting an expression of interest for membership in the Committee, please refer to more information here.

A new fact sheet and a set of frequently asked questions are available that explain the changes that will occur and what those changes will mean to water users.

Download PDF Fact sheet: Place of Take Approvals (228 Kb) 
Download PDF FAQs - Place of Take Approvals (235 Kb)

The new approach has been introduced through the Water and Catchment Legislation Amendment Act 2021, which will amend the Water Act 1989 when it comes into effect by July 2023. This approach affects water users in Victorian declared systems, which includes the regulated Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon, Broken, Bullarook, Ovens, Werribee and Thomson-Macalister systems.

More information will be available on the Place of Take Approvals webpage as the new approach is rolled out.