Higher-than-expected inflows into the Murray Darling Basin and its storages, coupled with lower-than-expected losses and increased releases from the Snowy Hydro scheme, have led to the increase. River Murray system inflows during November were only 168 gigalitres, well below the long-term median but much higher than November last year, when only 55gL was received. Water storages of 1877gL are at only 20pc of capacity compared with 26pc at the same time last year.

Carryover water will again be offered for the 2007-08 water year, allowing unused water to be carried forward into 2008-09.

South Australian Murray Irrigators chairman Ian Zadow said the extra 10pc allocation was "as a good as outcome as irrigators could expect".

"Speaking to those in citrus industry, they said they needed 40pc just to keep their trees going," he said.

"At 22pc they were only about halfway there - now they're about three quarters of the way there. "It's good news for the grape industry above Lock 1. Around Langhorne Creek there are some people who that can't access their water, and those who can, say it's at such a high salinity level it's almost unusuable."

* More in Stock Journal, Dec 6