Northern Dryland Plains

Introduction

The Northern Dryland Plains includes the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung (west of the Campaspe River), Taungurung (east of the Campaspe River) and Barapa Barapa (north of Mitiamo) peoples.

The area is located on the riverine plains to the north and west of Bendigo, and is largely agricultural, with dryland cropping the dominant land use. It is generally within commuting distance of regional centres (Bendigo, Echuca), which is what distinguishes it from the cropping areas further west. 

The lower Loddon and Campaspe Rivers and Bendigo Creek run through the area. The landscape is largely cleared for farming, and there is a relatively low proportion of native vegetation, though it does include most of the Patho Plains biodiversity asset (including Terrick Terrick National Park), which comprise native grasslands that are critical habitat for the Plains-wanderer (refer Biodiversity theme page for more). There are concerns regarding the ongoing loss of threatened native grasslands in this area due to change of land use (grazing to cropping).