A small country fire brigade will soon get a 33,000-litre water tank, pending final council approval.
In a letter to the Clutha District Council, the Clutha Valley Volunteer Fire Brigade asked permission to place the tank on the vacant council plot next to the station.
Brigade Chief Fire Officer John Kee said the brigade had only a small tank and accessed most water from the nearby Clutha Valley Community Centre's storage tank or the Clutha River.
Having a stored water supply at the station would be ''very handy'', he said.
It would make routine jobs such as washing the hoses and appliance and refilling the tanker and appliance much easier.
Mr Kee was not sure of the cost, but it would be paid for by the Fire Service.
The service required council permission to place the water tank on council-owned land northeast of the fire station.
The tank would also provide water in civil defence emergencies.
On Thursday, the council's district assets committee decided to recommend the council approve the request.
It also recommended approving the felling of several trees to avoid damage to the tank by roots.
The committee's recommendations will have to be approved by the council on April 10.
Councillor John Cochrane said the volunteer fire brigade did good work in the area.
The brigade has 15 volunteers, a 1988 Hino fire appliance and a Rural Fire tanker.
The brigade mainly covers the wider Clutha Valley area from Awamangu to Tuapeka West, up through the Rongahere Gorge and the Blue Mountains to Popotunoa.
Mr Kee said since July 1 the brigade had attended eight fires, two vehicle crashes and multiple false alarms.
