Local CFA members have expressed concern at a decision to move the 7,500 litre Erickson Air-Crane from Ballarat to Moorabbin, saying its flight time to Ballarat will now be over an hour.

Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley says the decision was a Royal Commission recommendation, and strengthens the ability of the CFA to fight fires in the region.

“We are moving the crane to Moorabbin and putting in an automatic response system with the 212 or 214 (helicopters),” said Mr Lapsley.

“This means they will go straight up when a call comes in, with the trucks. It takes the cranes 35 minutes to get up with approvals to go, but the smaller aircraft will be straight out with the trucks. This approach has had significant success in Bendigo, and it will improve initial responses in Ballarat.”

Ripon MLA Louise Staley said the decision puts the entire region of western Victoria at risk of being under-covered by the CFA’s air wing in the coming fire season, which is predicted to be more dangerous than usual.

“The threat of bushfires grows every year. We can’t risk downsizing to cheaper equipment with smaller water loads,” said Ms Staley.  “We need the best equipment to be based at Ballarat Airport.”

CFA volunteers say the air-crane proved invaluable in fighting recent fires at Scotsburn, Dereel and Mount Bolton, where they worked in tandem with large air tankers (LATs) to control blazes. One member said that without the air-crane being readily available from Ballarat, the Mount Bolton fire would have been much worse.

“Remember the Erickson not only services the Ballarat area, but Ararat, Stawell, Horsham and back into the Grampians,” said another member.

“If we have something going, we have to get the Erickson up here, and it’ll probably have to land to refuel before it even starts to firefight. Having it based in Moorabbin - it'll be great for saving golf courses and any fires in Bass Strait.”