Seven new fire stations are to be built in Christchurch, at a cost of $50 million, replacing badly damaged buildings and adding stations in new locations around the city.
The Fire Service announced the move on Thursday and hopes to have the stations built in three to five years.
The central station and those in Addington and Woolston will be rebuilt on current sites, while the other four will be at locations still to be decided.
Fire Service National Commander Paul Baxter said it was a great day for his firefighters.
"It's been a long time now, particularly for my staff who've been enduring the temporary accommodation and temporary working solutions while trying to continue to do a professional service."
Mr Baxter said each of the new stations will look to share buildings with police and ambulance, which is a model the rest of the country will also adopt in coming years.
He said volunteer brigades will remain in their current locations apart from New Brighton where a final decision has yet to be made.
Four of the seven fire stations could also serve as bases for police and St John ambulance.
Mr Baxter said once it has been decided where they will go, talks will begin with police and the ambulance service to gauge interest in sharing the facilities.
Photo: NZ FIRE SERVICE
