North West Region
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Description of the Region | Population | Landform and Soils | Climate | Land use | Land Values | Types of Species Grown | Plantation Committee | Forestry Industry Centres | References
Description of the RegionDescription of the region
The North West Plantation region (just over 5.5 million hectares) is situated in north-central and north-west Victoria, and is bordered by the Murray River to the north, the central highlands to the south and Shire of Campaspe to the east. The western border in the Mallee meets South Australia and encompasses the Shires of Buloke and Northern Grampians. Other local government areas included in the region are Greater Bendigo, Gannawarra, Swan Hill and Mildura. This plantation region also overlaps with the Wimmera, North Central and Mallee Catchment Management Authorities areas.
Population
Total population for the plantation region is just over 194 000, with two thirds dwelling in Greater Bendigo and Mildura. Greater Bendigo is the most densely populated, with more than twenty-eight people per square kilometre. All other areas are sparsely populated.
In the dryland farming parts of the region, population has been declining and this process is likely to continue albeit at a slower rate. However, some of the larger towns, such as Bendigo, Mildura and Swan Hill have been growing over recent years and are expected to continue this trend up to the year 2021 (Department of Infrastructure, 1996).
Landform and Soils
The North West landscape is characterised by flat to undulating plains and rolling hills. The Grampians National Park (part of the Great Dividing Range) represents a unique geological outcrop in the regions south and continues in an east-west direction along the southernmost border of the region. The northern section of this region is enclosed within the Victorian Riverina and adjoins the Murray River, while the land is generally flat or mostly undulating.
There is a diversity of soils in the region due to the variation in geology, parent material and climate. While some areas have deep, fertile and robust soils, the majority of the region’s soils have poor fertility, are fragile, prone to degradation and are relatively shallow (NCCALPB, 1997). The general soil types throughout the north central include:
Climate
Mean annual maximum temperatures are highest in the northern parts of the North West plantation region, generally about 21°C annually, 30°C during summer and 14-15°C in winter. Temperature lows in the north are approximately 10°C annually, about 9.5°C during summer and drop to an approximate average of 4.5°C in winter.
In the central zone of the plantation region, towns such as Bendigo experience temperature highs of 20.4°C averaged throughout the year, rising to a mean of about 28°C during summer and 13°C in winter. Average temperatures fall to 12-14°C in summer and 4°C during winter, an annual average of 9°C.
In the south-west, Stawell averages temperature highs of almost 20°C throughout the year, rising to almost 27°C in summer and 12.9°C during winter. Average temperature lows during summer are 12.3°C and 4.5°C during winter, an annual average of 8.5°C.
Mean annual rainfall is low throughout the region. The highest average recorded rainfall per annum is in Stawell (581 mm) while Bendigo receives 550 mm. In the far north, mean annual rainfall is lowest in Mildura and Kerang, receiving 297 mm and 377 mm respectively.
(Bureau of Meteorology, 1999).
 North West Mean Annual Rainfall | This North West Mean Annual Rainfall map provides an overview of past average rainfall figures throughout the plantation region. It is intended to be used for the purpose of identifying the areas throughout the region where various commercial tree species are likely to grow productively. The data was sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology and derived from the statewide Mean Annual Rainfall map, which has then been further classified into rainfall ranges. |
Land Use
After the 1860’s, vast areas of land were cleared or modified to make way for cropping and pasture development. Later, around the turn of the century, large-scale irrigation schemes for the production of fodder crops, cereals and fruits were established on the Goulburn, Loddon and Murray Rivers.
The flatter and more fertile areas within the region have been substantially cleared for dryland agriculture, principally sheep and beef cattle grazing (DNRE, 1997) while crops include grains, such as cereals, legumes as well as oil seed and hay. Irrigated areas provide for dairying, vegetables, horticulture and viticulture. Other significant uses of land include rural residential and sub-commercial holdings, urban land and other non-agricultural lands (NCCALPB, 1997).
Gold mining is the most significant mineral development industry in the region and although the area affected by mining today is relatively small, large areas remain covered by exploration licenses (DNRE, 1997).
Land Values
Some dryland agricultural properties in the North West region are priced lower than $1 000 per hectare, however, the majority of local government areas have mean median property values ranging between $1 000 and $1 999 per hectare.
 North West Mean Median Land Values for Dryland Properties (1995-97) | The North West Mean Median Land Values for Dryland Properties map is a general guideline of property values (per hectare) for each local government area throughout the region. They provide existing and potential agricultural land holders with an average median value for this type of property. Median property values are provided by Land Victoria (Department of Sustainability and Environment). Means, or averages, were then calculated for sales of properties throughout the calendar years 1995-1997 for each local government area for properties classified by Land Victoria as cattle, cereal or sheep when sold. |
Types of Species Grown
Commercial tree species of North Central Victoria include
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Source: Phelan and Higgins (1996)
Plantation Committee
No Regional Plantation Committee currently exists for the north west region.
Forestry Industry Centres
There are few processing plants throughout the North West region due to an infant development of farm forestry industry to date. There are softwood sawmills located at Heathcote, Bendigo, Harcourt and Elmore. One hardwood sawmill is located at Stawell while two are situated in Echuca, and one at Barmah, Cohuna and Koondrook along the Murray River. These are Red Gum mills, processing green sawn timber and solid furniture.
 North West Softwood Processing Plant | This North West Softwood Processing Plants map is intended to be used as a general guideline with regards to the location and type of processing facilities available to growers and plantation investors throughout the region. The types of plants at a particular location will change over time as will the number of facilities. The map is relevant as at July, 1999. Data used to generate this map was derived from the following sources: Phelan and Higgins (1996) and Department of Sustainability and Environment. |
 North West Hardwood Processing Plants | This North West Hardwood Processing Plants map is to be used as a general guideline with regards to the location and type of processing facilities available to growers and plantation investors throughout the state. The types of plants at a particular location will change over time as will the number of facilities. The map is relevant as at July, 1999. Data used to generate this map was derived from the Department of Sustainability and Environment Commercial Forestry Division, and Phelan and Higgins (1996). |
References
Bureau of Meteorology, (BOM) (1999) Climate Averages Webpage.
Department of Infrastructure (1996) Victoria in future: the Victorian government’s population projections for the state’s Local Government Areas, 1996-2021, Melbourne.
The former Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) (1997) Victoria’s Biodiversity: Directions In Management, Melbourne.
Land Conservation Council (LCC) (1983) Report on the Murray Valley Area, Melbourne.
North Central Catchment & Land Protection Board (NCCALPB) (1997), Regional Catchment Strategy, former DNRE, Victoria.
Phelan, T., and Higgins, I., (1996) Timber growing opportunities in north central Victoria, Centre for Land Protection Research, Technical report no. 38, Bendigo, Victoria.
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2008.
This document was last reviewed on 29/09/2008