Natural Resources

	The regional climate in the North East region is as variable as the landscape. For example, along the Murray River (at Wodonga) maximum temperatures average 22.1°C while the minimum average is 8.9°C throughout the year. Mean annual rainfall in Wodonga is 715 mm. In comparison, the alpine region is significantly colder and wetter throughout the year. The highest average rainfall is 2 400 mm at Mt Bogong.	Climate
	The Great Dividing Range is the dominant landform feature in the North East region. The region is also characterised by a series of mature valleys with broad alluvial flats as well as raised terraces and fans.	Landform
	Land use is also diverse in the North East region of Victoria. Private land in the North East comprises approximately one million hectares (about 46% of the catchment region), most of which is cleared for agriculture. Public land in the North East region covers about 1.2 million hectares (roughly 54% of the region) and consists mainly of National Parks, State Parks, Flora & Fauna Reserves and State Forests.	Landuse
	There is a diversity of soils in the North East region, due to variations in geology, parent material and climate.	Soil
	The North East region is well serviced for surface water resources with a series of rivers flowing west from the Great Divide into the southern part of the Murray Darling Basin. The northern boundary of the region is the River Murray, Australia’s largest and most important river system. Major catchments include the Kiewa River Basin, the Upper Murray Basin and Ovens River Basin. Groundwater resources from the Kiewa River Basin includes a total divertible and minor groundwater resource estimated to be 7 100 ML per year, of which 6 600 ML is fresh water. Groundwater resources in the Victorian part of the Upper Murray Basin are estimated at 3 800 ML per year. The total divertible and minor groundwater resource from the Ovens River Basin is estimated to be 9 400 ML per year.	Water
	Vegetation in the highlands is dominated by Moist Foothill Forest Complexes and Dry Foothill Forests, with smaller occurrences Lowland Forest Complexes, Heathy Woodland Complexes and Valley Grassy Forest Complexes. The Victorian Alps Bioregion consists of a complex mosaic of ecological communities, including treeless sub-alpine communities, grasslands, shrublands, heathlands, and bogs on the highest ground and in ‘frost hollows’ in high valleys. The northern plains within the North East region of Victoria consists of Plains Grassy Woodlands, Grassland Complexes, Riverine Grassy Woodland Complexes, Grassy Dry Forests, Herb-rich Foothill Forests, Montane Dry Woodlands and Shrubby Dry Forests to name a few.	Vegetation
	Major land and water management issues current throughout the North East region include catchment management, catchment planning (including Special Water Supply Catchment management), river health and management issues, water quality, floodplain management, salinity management, catchment condition monitoring, and land degradation.	Land and Water Management
	Future development opportunities to invest in North East’s natural resources include various agriculture, plantation/ farm forestry, aquaculture, neutroceutical and phytochemical enterprises.	Investing in North East's Land and Water

References

Commonwealth of Australia (C of A) and Victorian RFA Steering Committee (1998). North East Victoria: Comprehensive Regional Assessment. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

Department of Water Resources (1989). A Water Resource Handbook. Melbourne

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