Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and WaterNSW have published a joint report that summarises feedback received on the assessment of options to improve access to Barmah, Goulburn and Murrumbidgee trade openings, and sets out the agencies’ plans to implement long-term improvements in response to these findings.

Improving access to trade opportunities – what we heard and where to next

DEECA and WaterNSW undertook consultation on the independent options assessments during May and June 2026. We heard a range of views on the options from irrigators, irrigation groups, industry bodies, and brokers. Overall, most stakeholders supported randomisation as their preferred option for providing access to scheduled Barmah, Goulburn and Murrumbidgee trade opportunities because they felt the option best supports equity of access.

In response to these findings, DEECA has committed to implementing randomisation as the long-term approach for the Barmah and Goulburn trade openings and to make adjustments to scheduling of trade openings to avoid conflicting with seasonal determinations. These commitments are consistent with the arrangements already communicated for the upcoming 16 October Goulburn trade opening and will continue to apply to future trade openings.

In addition, over the longer term DEECA will continue to investigate opportunities to refine processes to improve efficiency and transparency. For Barmah trade openings these improvements will be implemented in collaboration with WaterNSW.

We also heard concerns about the large volume of intervalley trade applications by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder for Goulburn trade opportunities. In response to these concerns, DEECA will develop guidance for statutory agencies participating in Victorian markets, including environmental water holders. This guidance will ensure there is transparency about the obligations of all market participants, and that the potential impacts of trading decisions by statutory agencies on other parties are appropriately considered.

More information about the joint work to investigate opportunities to improve access to trade openings is available on Engage Victoria. This includes findings and reports about the development and consultation of the assessment framework, independent options assessments and consultation.

DEECA and WaterNSW sincerely thank those who took the time to provide their input to this project.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Market Reform and Transparency team at water.markets.transparency@deeca.vic.gov.au