Zone 6 water price — Vic Murray Above Choke
The Zone 6 water price is the cost of temporary allocation in the Victorian Murray upstream of the Barmah Choke. Because delivery is more certain and supply is constrained by the Choke, Zone 6 often trades at a premium to Zone 1A. For today’s firm price per megalitre, call (03) 5824 3833.
Need a Zone 6 quote?
Call (03) 5824 3833 or request a callback.
Market data
Recent allocation trades across Victoria.
Recorded transactions from the Victorian Water Register, not indicative quotes. For today's market, call the desk.
Data sourced from the VWR public allocation-market dashboard. Figures are indicative only and may not reflect the price you receive.
Zone 6 price at a glance
- • Quoted in: AUD per megalitre (ML) of temporary allocation
- • System: Victorian Murray above the Barmah Choke — fed from Hume and Dartmouth
- • Main demand: dairy, mixed irrigation, and inter-zone buyers seeking delivery certainty
- • Pricing tendency: often a premium to Zone 1A when the IVT cap to the Murray is full
- • Key constraint: the Barmah Choke limits how much water can move downstream
What drives the Zone 6 water price?
Zone 6 (Vic Murray Above Choke) allocation prices respond to a handful of forces specific to this system. Understanding them helps buyers and sellers time a trade.
Hume and Dartmouth storage and upper-Murray inflows
Allocation available to Zone 6 is governed by storage in Hume and Dartmouth and by inflows along the upper Murray. Low storage entering spring tightens supply and pushes the Zone 6 price up.
The Barmah Choke and IVT constraints
The Barmah Choke physically limits flow downstream, and inter-valley transfers from the Goulburn (Zone 1A) into the Murray are capped. When that cap is full, Zone 6 cannot easily top up from cheaper upstream sources, so its price can hold a premium.
Above-Choke delivery certainty
Water held above the Choke faces fewer downstream delivery restrictions, which buyers value when they need assured delivery. That certainty premium is a persistent feature of Zone 6 pricing relative to zones below the Choke.
Victorian allocation announcements
Seasonal allocation percentages from the Victorian Water Register set the volume of water credited to Murray entitlements. Below-average announcements and mid-season downgrades lift the Zone 6 price; strong announcements ease it.
Temporary water vs allocation in Zone 6
The Zone 6 temporary water price and the Zone 6 allocation price are the same figure — the cost of one season’s water, quoted in AUD per megalitre. It is separate from the price of a permanent water entitlement in this zone, which is the ongoing asset that receives allocation each year. For the full distinction see entitlements vs allocations, or our overview of temporary water prices in Victoria.
Zone 6 water price — FAQs
What is the current Zone 6 water price?
The Zone 6 (Vic Murray Above Choke) allocation price changes daily with storage, demand and Barmah Choke conditions. The Recent allocation trades panel above shows the latest median per megalitre recorded by the Victorian Water Register for Zone 6 when trades are published. Because activity can be thinner than Zone 1A, call Integra on (03) 5824 3833 for a current quote.
Why is Zone 6 water often more expensive than Zone 1A?
Zone 6 sits above the Barmah Choke, where delivery is more certain, and the inter-valley transfer cap can stop cheaper Goulburn (Zone 1A) water flowing in to meet demand. When that cap is full, Zone 6 supply is effectively ring-fenced and the price holds a premium.
How is the Zone 6 water price quoted?
In Australian dollars per megalitre (AUD/ML) of temporary allocation, before brokerage and Victorian Water Register transfer fees. The price covers the season’s water only, not the permanent entitlement.
Is Zone 6 temporary water the same as a water allocation?
Yes. In Zone 6, “temporary water”, “allocation” and “temporary trade” all refer to the same thing — the season’s water priced per megalitre, distinct from the permanent entitlement that receives it each year.
Where can I see Zone 6 water price data?
The Victorian Water Register publishes recorded Zone 6 allocation-trade prices. Trade volumes above the Choke can be lighter than Zone 1A, so a broker quote is often the most reliable read on the current Zone 6 price — call the Integra desk for today’s level.
Liz Johnston
Senior Water Broker
Indicative only. Not financial advice. Water trade involves risk of principal loss. Prices shown are indicative and may not reflect current market conditions. All trades subject to Victorian Water Register rules and MDBA water trading rules.