Gas leak in Bendigo now declared safe

Residents have been told to resume normal activities now that the gas leak has been declared safe.

The emergency warning that was issued earlier on Sunday. The area has since been declared safe. Source: CFA

A hazardous gas leak at a regional Victorian milk factory has been deemed safe after firefighters managed to bring it under control.

Emergency crews were called to the Parmalat factory on Bannister Street in North Bendigo about 1.45pm on Sunday.

The initial emergency warning for an "extremely dangerous" and rapidly dissipating unknown chemical leaking was slightly downgraded within two hours and deemed safe about 4pm.

A liquid reacted with a metal in the factory which caused the fumes, a CFA spokesman told AAP on Sunday.

Eight CFA vehicles attended the incident with firefighters expected to remain on scene for a while longer.

"The hazardous gas leak in North Bendigo is now safe.  Fumes are no longer emitting from the leak," Vic Emergency advised.

"People located within the area are now able to resume normal activities."