Community
12 March, 2026
CFA group cops shed’s shortfalls
Group officer Phil Ellis said while the shed is too small for the tanker to fit, it’s also too small to host the group’s training sessions.
CHARLTON CFA’s outdated shed is not just a problem for the brigade itself.
It’s shortfalls have a negative impact on the group as a whole.
Group officer Phil Ellis said while the shed is too small for the tanker to fit, it’s also too small to host the group’s training sessions.
“Charlton is the hub for the group and we can’t even host events there,” Mr Ellis said.
“It’s embarrassing when you’re trying to hold important events and you can’t even do that at your home base.”
Mr Ellis said CFA members from around the group - which includes crews like Glenloth, Yeungroon, Teddywaddy and Buckrabanyule - would often have to travel hours to another station for training.
“Our volunteers take enough time out of their days keeping equipment running on weekends, for example,” he said.
“The last thing they want to do is travel hours around the countryside to do training that takes up hours of their time anyway.
“It’s not good enough.”
The CFA station in Charlton has caused years of angst in the community.
Since 2021, the brigade has had to house its 2020 Iveco Eurocargo Tanker at the back of Walsh Motors, which is 450m from the fire brigade station. The brigade has called for a new, more fit-for-purpose station to be built on the ground that had been purchased back in 2022, but ground is yet to be broken.
Tensions boiled over back in September when Charlton CFA captain Craig Walsh told the NCN Herald of the lack of response from pleas that had been sent to the State Government earlier last year.
Mr Ellis said the cracks showed significantly when the shed was set up as the strike team base during the Yeungroon fire in December last year.
“We had a massive group of brigades from all across the state here to help us fight that fire and we couldn’t even provide appropriate facilities for them,” he said.
“It’s really embarrassing actually.
“We know it’s not all about looks or anything like that, but when basic needs aren’t even being met, that’s when it’s a problem.
“Our volunteers shouldn’t have to use second-class facilities like we have in Charlton.
“It’s not on.”
While the Charlton CFA celebrated it’s shed’s 95th birthday recently, the event was plagued by speak of the facility’s issues.
Female members of the brigade face challenges with changing facilities, as the space is “simply inadequate”.
Buloke Shire mayor Graeme Milne said the council would support the brigades to get the facilities these “local legends” deserve.
“As a shire, we applaud what our local volunteers do and the way they pull our communities through some very tough times,” he said.
“We will keep pushing the cause of a new station because you deserve much more than what you’ve got right now,” Cr Milne said.
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