A new water tanker for the use of the Palmerston Fire Brigade needs to be located in Palmerston, local authorities say.
The brigade's water tanker was taken off the road in December after failing its fitness certificate.
Chief Rural Fire Officer Stephanie Rotorangi told those at a meeting called in Palmerston to discuss the issue this week that it would be replaced, but where it would be stationed ''was yet to be decided''.
Dr Rotorangi earlier said it could be July before a budgetary decision could be made about the Palmerston water tanker.
The meeting was chaired by Waihemo Community Board chairman Geoff Foote, and attended by Dr Rotarangi, Waitaki's Mayor Gary Kircher, Palmerston Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Gary Johnston and representatives from the New Zealand Fire Service and OceanaGold.
Mr Kircher said locating a tanker elsewhere, such as at Hampden or Waikouaiti, was not ideal.
The Waitaki District Council had ''some options'' to help fund a tanker for Palmerston and a shelter for the tanker beside the Palmerston fire station, which it was willing to discuss.
A new fire tanker would cost $350,000 and a second-hand one could cost $180,000, he said.
Mr Johnston said it would more than double the time for the water tanker to reach fires in the Palmerston area if outside water tankers had to travel to the area.
The Palmerston fire appliance could hold only 2000 litres of water, which was insufficient for fighting most rural fires, he said.
