CICL Update May 2025
Dear Members,
This newsletter provides Members with an update on key water issues affecting CICL and its Members’ businesses.
In this month's newsletter -
Department of Climate Change Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
Allocation announcements
01/05/2025
High Security 95%
General Security 39%
Groundwater 100%
(Lower Murrumbidgee)
2024-25 CICL announcement and offers
Member benefit 10%
Additional water offer 6%
Water allocation update – NSW – DCCEEW released a water allocation update on Thursday 1 May 2025. It is here. The next allocation announcement will be published at 2.30pm on Tuesday 15th April 2025.
Notice: of end of season closure of annual allocation trade
CICL will close all trades at 12 noon on Monday 30 June 2025
Annual intravalley transfers to and from CICL’s licence close at 12 noon Monday 30 June 2025.
Annual internal transfers between CICL farms – close at 12 noon Monday 30 June 2025.
Single Farming Unit Accounting – close at 12 noon Monday 30 June 2025
Customers needing to either purchase or sell annual allocation to finalise their end of season account balances, need to allow sufficient lead time for trade approvals to be processed prior to 12 noon on Monday 30 June 2025.
Season Closure
Members are asked to contact Water Operations by 4pm on Tuesday 6 May to discuss water requirements for the remainder of the season. The closure date for the Main Offtake will be set shortly and members will be notified accordingly, via email and SMS.
As a reminder, water deliveries may continue after offtake closure but only subject to availability, with supply no longer guaranteed.
Water Operations – Business Hours 02 6954 4003 – After Hours 0427 544 269
Water use limit 2025-26 season
In line with its Water Use Policy, CICL has set the total farm water use limit (including on-farm bores) at 9ML/ha for the 2025/26 season. The limit increase of one ML/ha from the prior season is possible because of the reduction in the area with a water table within 0-2m of the surface from the recent piezometer readings.
The rice soil suitability provisions in the CICL Water Use Policy also remain suspended.
Please contact Keith Thompson via reception on T: 02 6954 4003 for further information.
IPART WaterNSW and WAMC Pricing Determinations
IPART WaterNSW and Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC) Pricing Determinations:
IPART’s draft reports on both the WaterNSW and WAMC prices to apply from 1 July 2025 are delayed.
IPART had anticipated releasing a draft report in March 2025.
CICL understands, at least for WaterNSW charges, a new pricing determination will be made to apply from 1 July 2025.
The draft reports will be available here for WaterNSW and here for WAMC.
National Irrigators' Council Visitors and Newsletter.
Zara Lowein, CEO National Irrigators’ Council
CICL was pleased to welcome Zara Lowein to a member meeting on Thursday 1 May.
Zara provided an excellent presentation on the work of National Irrigators’ Council in the interests of water entitlement holders. Key messages included the importance of unity, partnerships and collaboration and of industry being proactive and strategic. A copy of Zara’s presentation is here.
Photo: L-R Julian Speed, CICL CEO, Zara Lowein CEO of NIC, Jenny McLeod, CICL Policy and Communication and Chair of NIC and Craig Perkins, Chair of CICL.
Tom O’Malley, Policy Officer, NSW Irrigators’ Council
CICL was pleased to host Tom O’Malley on Thursday 1 May. Tom had an opportunity to experience corn harvest with our Chair Craig Perkins and have a demonstration of Total Channel Control. We also discussed our joint approach to the renewal of the Water Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee Regulated River System.
Photo: L-R Craig Perkins, CICL Chair and Tom O’Malley
NSW Irrigators’ Council April Newsletter
Please find a link to the NSW Irrigators’ Council (NSWIC) April newsletter here. The newsletter summaries the key issues and activities of NSWIC during April.
Last chance for members to complete survey
You are encouraged to complete the CICL member and customer survey about potential water-saving opportunities and other efficiency measures within our footprint.
Coleambally Irrigation has partnered with an independent facilitator, GHD, to deliver this member and customer survey. It will help greatly if responses include information on farm numbers and Delivery Entitlements/Water Entitlements; however, you may exclude this information if you wish to remain anonymous.
Please complete the survey by scanning the QR code below or clicking on the link below.
You can also access the survey via the CICL website here.
If you wish to complete this survey over the phone instead, please call a member of the GHD team on 1800 810 610 who will be able to assist you.
Conclusion
Thank you to our members and guests who attending our member meeting last week. It was great opportunity for members to listen to and talk directly with Zara Lowein of National Irrigators’ Council. Water is a challenging space, and our industry is fortunate to have people of Zara’s calibre and passion for agriculture to be representing our industry.
If you have not already done so, please complete the survey, this will be closing this Friday 9 May.
Please also contact Water Operations with your end of season water requirements.
Julian Speed
CEO
