Ms Ryan said Mangalore-based Kestral Aviation, a specialist company that had developed many of the modern aerial firefighting techniques, including night firefighting, was overlooked for the tender for the 2021-22 fire season.
The helicopter stationed in Shepparton is operated by Microflite.
“My concern predominantly stems from the fact that this helicopter has a carrying capacity of 1050 litres,’’ Ms Ryan said.
"The helicopter that was previously stationed here had a 1500 litre carrying capacity.
“So that means that this helicopter can carry only two-thirds of the capacity that has previously been stationed here.”
Despite a mild and wet summer, Ms Ryan said the region was prone to fast-moving grass fires and should have had the best aerial firefighting platform available.
“I want the government to explain why they have actually reduced the capacity of the Goulburn Valley’s helicopter, because if anything, I think we need to be increasing our capacity not reducing it,” she said.
Ms Ryan wasn’t suggesting the current helicopter wasn’t fit for purpose.
“I'm saying it is not as good as what we had here previously,” she said.
Veteran firefighter Tom Brodie, who retired from active duty three years ago, said the region had fought hard to get a helicopter based locally during fire season.
“Going back to smaller aircraft, it does work in some rural areas, but in this district we’ve got open plains where the fire can move very quickly,” he said.
“We’ve got to keep going forward with the aircraft and the bigger we can do it the safer Victoria’s community will be.”
Nationals candidate for Nicholls Sam Birrell also weighed in on the helicopter debate.
“I think it is systematic of city-centric governments who when they look at what to cut it is the regions that cop it,” he said.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said this summer regional based helicopters were backed up by larger night-flying Chinook helicopters and large air tankers.
“Our firefighting aircraft fleet are strategically placed across Victoria and can be moved quickly to respond to risk – regional Victorians can rest assured they will be protected no matter where they live,” the spokesperson said.
“Strategic decisions about our state’s bushfire preparedness are made by emergency response experts — not politicians — and that's exactly how it should be.
“We will keep backing our fire agencies so they can secure the resources they ask for, when they ask for them.”
