A business case from August 2020, released under the Official Information Act, shows Fenz made plans for a new realistic fire training building (Raft) for the Otago and Southland region at a site in Portobello Rd.
It was estimated the project would be completed in June 2021, but resource consents have yet to be secured for the site.
The business case said a new facility was needed because the older models at Invercargill and the Dunedin Central Fire Station had to be closed in 2014 and 2018 respectively, due to the structures being condemned.
The new designs were based around shipping containers with filters and water scrubbers to remove smoke and contaminants.
The estimated benefits of the project include a target of 1740 firefighters trained or refreshed each year, and savings from reduced travel and accommodation spending.
The facility would save Southern firefighters from travelling to Christchurch for training and and would also reduce reliance on conducting training burns in disused buildings.
The cost of building and operating the site was estimated at $4.5 million over 12 years, and the Raft complex itself expected to cost $402,000 to build.
An attached report on the suitability of the preferred Dunedin location found the 6000sq m site meant it could also be used for motor vehicle accident training.
Three other such facilities were planned around the country, the first being constructed in Christchurch.
A memo in November last year showed the planned project at the Whenuapai Air Force Base was to be completed and tested before construction started in Dunedin.
A lease at the Portobello Rd site and an additional $403,000 for the Dunedin facility had been secured, the memo said.
A Dunedin City Council planning administrator confirmed no resource consents had been lodged for the site.
