The North Central CMA region covers 13% of Victoria and encompasses a diverse range of land types; from the foothill forests of the Great Dividing Range to the riverine plains and Murray River in the north. At the heart of the region is Bendigo, a city built on gold and one that is still experiencing rapid population growth. The region comprises four major river catchments – the Campaspe, Loddon, Avoca and Avon-Richardson. The climate is Mediterranean, with the upper catchments receiving around 1000 mm of rain a year, while the plains average less than 500 mm.