With installation works commencing on Wednesday 25 May, the tanks were installed across Tallangatta Valley, Harcourt, Carranballac and Yarck to strengthen water security and improve emergency preparedness in high-risk regional communities.
More than 450,000 hectares were burned during Victoria’s 2026 fire season, with one life tragically lost and many regional communities facing severe water shortages during peak emergency response periods.
Craig Tenteye from Border Tanks – a local Pioneer Water Tanks dealer – said reliable water infrastructure could play a vital role in future firefighting efforts across regional communities.
“When communities are under pressure during fire events, dependable access to water can make an enormous difference,” Craig said.
“These tanks are about giving regional communities practical infrastructure they can rely on, both during emergencies and throughout recovery.”
Pioneer’s GT110 tanks are engineered for harsh Australian conditions, providing high-capacity storage for firefighting, agricultural recovery and broader community use. Each site has been strategically selected to maximise accessibility for emergency services, local landholders and volunteer firefighting crews.
Tallangatta Valley Rural Fire Brigade volunteer Clint Reed said the January fires highlighted just how critical reliable water access is during an emergency response.
“The weather was horrific and the wind pushed the fire into Tallangatta Valley like a fire tornado,” Mr Reed said.
“Within hours we lost electricity and mobile phone service, leaving some properties without running water and no ability to communicate. Resources were stretched beyond belief.”
Mr Reed said the new tank installation has become an important community asset for future fire preparedness.
“Having access to 110,000 litres of water thanks to Pioneer Water Tanks will be invaluable to future firefighting efforts,” he said.
Local beef farmer Shane Carson said the fires had a significant impact across the region, with local communities and volunteer brigades working tirelessly to protect homes, livestock and farmland.
“The local brigades and volunteers put everything on the line to protect this community,” Mr Carson said.
“Projects like this give communities confidence that we’ll be better prepared next time.”
The initiative is being delivered in partnership with BlueScope, Lysaght, Mainfreight and Bartletts to support the manufacture, transport and installation of the tanks across regional Victoria.
