An upcoming trial of the tsunami warning system at the Kaik Fishing Reserve, Waitaki River mouth, will take place at 10am on July 17.
A Waitaki District Council spokesman said one siren was installed in June.
Ewen Graham said the siren and a trailer was originally bought for Oamaru residents in 2004 but was never made operational.
"While the intention to help notify people of an impending tsunami was good, the ability to make it operational was unlikely to be successful: i.e. who would deploy it? Who would hear it? Oamaru being a large town. How would it be used?
"For these reasons, the siren was not activated."
The local community at the Kaik Fishing Reserve had since decided the piece of equipment could be a valuable tool to help warn residents of an impending tsunami, Mr Graham said.
"It is commendable that a local community has taken the initiative to use an existing resource to help protect them selves from a tsunami."
He described the sound the siren would make as similar to that of a fire station siren, but it did not oscillate.
"It has one continuous, very loud sound."
He said tsunami evacuation zones on the North Otago coast line had not been finalised, but he expected them to be completed soon.
"We will be informing the public at that time," Mr Graham said.
