Three members of the group turned heads when they pulled up outside the council chambers in a restored 1935 Ford V8 fire appliance and again when they marched inside, wearing period uniforms, to address councillors.
The group told yesterday's Dunedin City Council public forum meeting that they - and their 12 restored vintage fire appliances and other artefacts - were facing an uncertain future from 2011, when they would lose access to a storage facility at Green Island.
The facility was jointly used by the society and the Otago Settlers Museum, which plans to develop its own $8.6 million climate-controlled storage building.
Five restored fire engines will be stored at the new building, but the society will lose access to the old building.
Society president Paul Clements said members were keen to be a part of Dunedin's evolving heritage tourism, possibly linked to the development of the Dunedin Gasworks Museum, which on Tuesday won support from Prime Minister Helen Clark.
A permanent base and a home for the society's other treasures was needed, he told councillors.
"We would very much like to be part of what's happening."
Forum chairman Cr Paul Hudson said the society had the forum's support, and said councillors would help the group work through its issues with the council.
