North East CFA volunteers seek clarity over changing renewable landscape

North East CFA volunteers are calling on government assistance to properly resource local CFA volunteers as large-scale renewable energy projects expand across the district. A community protest has been planned by the group this Saturday in Benalla, which has been central to a host of renewable energy projects in the area in recent years. With the Victorian election approaching, CFAVG is asking local candidates and political parties to provide clear answers about how they would support CFA volunteers and ensure emergency-service capability keeps pace with development. CFAVG secretary Leigh Harry said the issue was not whether renewable energy should proceed, but to best protect CFA volunteers who may expected to respond to fires around solar farms. “We are seeing a changing regional risk profile,” he said. “Our CFA volunteers already deal with grassfires, bushfires, road crashes, storms and other emergencies. “Now they are also operating in a landscape containing large-scale solar facilities, batteries and associated infrastructure. “The question is whether emergency-service planning is keeping pace.” Similar concerns were raised by some CFA volunteers in the immediate vicinity of the proposed Meadow Creek solar farm while it was being considered for approval. The 250MW Goorambat East Solar Farm, near Benalla, commenced operations in 2026 and is situated near Glenrowan and Winton solar farms. Battery energy storage projects have also been approved in the broader Glenrowan–Winton area. A 332MW solar farm has been approved in Meadow Creek to go with a solar farm currently in operation in North Wangaratta. CFAVG acknowledges that CFA has already undertaken important work around renewable-energy preparedness, including guidance covering emergency planning, access, water supplies and information for emergency responders. Training has also been undertaken with local brigades, including Glenrowan, Winton and Wangaratta North. Mr Harry said this work was welcome, but preparedness must be properly resourced and sustained as development continues. “Training alone isn't enough,” Mr Harry said. “If a major incident keeps local crews committed for many hours, who provides the additional capability? Who provides relief? Where does the equipment come from? And can the local brigade still respond if another emergency occurs? “Our CFA volunteers will answer the call regardless of what infrastructure is in front of them. “They deserve to know that government has done everything reasonably possible to prepare and support them before that call comes.” CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said CFA has developed operational procedures for response and continues to review and refine these procedures to respond to emergencies at renewable energy facilities. “This includes renewable energy facilities such as solar farms, wind farms and battery energy storage solutions,” he said. “We work closely at a local level to ensure brigades and volunteers are familiar with any renewable energy development and given the training to support this “Fire safety at large-scale renewable energy facilities is a focus for CFA and is one of the key considerations for communities where a facility is proposed. “CFA’s Specialist Risk and Fire Safety Unit (SRFSU) works with regulators and industry to ensure that fire risk management is considered and addressed in the design and operation of renewable energy facilities.” Mr Heffernan said CFA officials planned to meet with local brigade leaders in the Benalla area next week to ensure CFA was meeting the needs of their volunteers and supporting them to respond to potential renewable energy emergencies. “CFA firefighters are highly trained to manage a range of hazards and risks when responding to emergency situations and have been doing so for years,” he said. “CFA’s Renewable Energy Design Guidelines and Model Requirements Renewable Energy, provides standard considerations and measures for fire safety, risk and emergency management in designing, constructing and operating wind generation facilities.” VicGrid announced last week the Central North Renewable Energy Zone, which was proposed to incorporate Glenrowan, Winton and Benalla townships, would not be going ahead. They said limited capacity on the local electricity grid taken up by current renewable energy projects paired with community feedback led to their decision.

North East CFA volunteers seek clarity over changing renewable landscape

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