Katikati Fire Brigade is moving from its prime location on Main Road and talk is circling the township of who will take up the vacant premises.

A number of community groups believed to be vying for the council-owned building, set to become available later this year.

Katikati Fire Brigade station officer Brendan Gibbs stands outside the brigade's current Main Rd building, which the brigade formerly shared with Katikati St John.

The brigade will become neighbours to Katikati St John when the two services move into new buildings planned on the newly-opened road link between Carisbrooke St, Sheffield St and Marshall Rd.

Katikati Fire Brigade station officer Brendan Gibbs says the brigade's building committee has received word from their NZ Fire Service headquarters in Wellington that they'll begin building the new station by July or August.

'This means we might be in it by the end of this year or early next year,” says Brendan. 'The contract has been put out and I'm told tenders were under the maximum amount we're allowed to spend on the project, and the NZ Fire Service hope to let the contract in the next few weeks.”

Also a Katikati Community Board member, Brendan says the current fire station building is council-owned and it's up to the Western Bay council to decide what happens with it. 'They're talking about sub-leasing it to one of the community groups, such as the drama group, the blue house, Katch Katikati or something like that – though no real decision has been made,” says Brendan.

'But my understanding is that it will be made available to community groups – and quite a few are interested in it.”

Earlier this year, Katikati Open-Air Art president Steve Graveson said his group will eventually be looking for a new location for its Little Blue House art gallery, once the council builds its new office-come-library on the LBH's Main Rd site (formerly Dreamers).

'When this will happen I do not know,” says Steve.

He says the group has discussed its need for a new site, 'but other than being centrally-located – we have no preference of where we will go at this stage”.

Katikati Theatre Inc is actively looking for a home and new chairman Dave Woodhouse says his group may be interested in the building.

'The theatre is without a home and it is frustrating for us and the whole town.

'It would be wonderful to finally find a home – though that building would need a lot of work.”

Katch Katikati promotion manager Jacqui Knight knows there is talk her organisation could move into the building with other community groups.

'We would be excited to do that as we would like to remain in a central location.

'It's a fantastic area to be in because you're right in the centre of town where it is all happening,” says Jacqui.

'For that fire station building to be used as community venue would suit it, with its courtyard, nearby children's park and being central – it has major advantages.”

Katikati Ward councillor Mike Williams says no firm decision has been made on the building's fate.

'There is a Town Centre Plan, which indicates it is to be used for an information centre and things like that – and there is interest coming through from the local groups as well – but at this stage I'd say nothing is definite.”

Mike says the suggestion of putting a community group or groups in the building until a formal council decision is made, on its future, could be possible.

'I guess it's something we could look at but it would be temporary.”

Mike says the TCP is still the basis of what everyone is working towards unless changes are wanted or needed.

'We'll probably stick to that – but we will look at it before we make a decision.”

Being a prime location in the town's centre, Mike says it will 'definitely be used for something”.

Though, when the building is used, the councillor says the building will require earthquake-strengthening, 'and add-ons attached over the years will have to be removed”.

'The idea is to bring it back to its original state – as it does have a heritage building status.”