THE OLD fire station at West Tamworth could become a museum for vintage trucks carefully restored by a group of retired firefighters.
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The firies housed at West Tamworth will be moved into a $5 million facility with all the bells and whistles, but no fireman's pole, at Ringers Road.
Inside a shed at the showground, the retired firefighters diligently work to keep old fire station assets in good nick, Tamworth Fire and Rescue zone commander Tom Cooper said.
"We will be in discussion with council and Kevin Anderson to keep that asset or have that asset handed over to the council to become a fire museum," he said.
"People can come and see the old fire engines and all the other things that come along with them from the Tamworth fire district."
The concept plans for the new station that has been in the pipeline for almost four years were revealed on Friday.
At this stage the project is on time and it's believed building will start in early to mid-August.
"When we sat down at the drawing board and set up a business case we wanted something that would lead us into the next 50 years," Mr Cooper said.
The location is across the road from the Longyard Hotel, chosen for its large block size and the ability to expand if needed.
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It's hoped the 24 hour station will improve response times in the fire district that continues to expand.
The tender for the build will go out in June and it's hoped the first fire trucks will roll out of the station halfway through 2020, Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said.
"I'm really proud of the work these firefighters do to keep us safe," he said.
The fire station in East Tamworth will remain operational.