They will be keeping a close eye on the landscape for the first signs of fire in an effort to reduce response times and reduce the impact of bushfires in the area.

However the initial concept of a fire spotting tower has developed into an observation tower that will be used by all emergency services as a coordination point during fires, land and sea searches, and marine rescues.

It will also be used as a lookout on New Year's Eve to keep an eye out for flares being set off illegally.

It also considers tourists with a viewing platform around the base of the tower that will eventually have information signs and maps showing people what they are looking at.

The 360 degree view spans Point Bolingbroke, all the hills to Marble Range, Coffin Bay and Lincoln national parks and the seaway beyond, Porter Bay, Proper Bay and Boston Bay giving both sightseers and emergency services the perfect vantage point.

Eyre and West Local Service Area police Superintendent Brad Flaherty said the tower was a combined emergency services approach to dealing with a community issue.

"It's a significant community service keeping the community safe - at sea, with respect to bushfires and from a tourism point of view."

Local emergency services want to encourage community ownership of the tower because the only reason it is there is for community safety.

"If anyone damages it, it puts the community's safety at risk," Superintendent Flaherty said.

The observation tower will be officially opened next month but SES volunteers may be based in the tower before that on days of particular fire risk.

They will be trained in map orientation and to recognise smoke and determine how far away it is.

It was funded by the Port Lincoln and Lower Eyre Peninsula Councils and the State and federal governments, with Port Lincoln City Council community infrastructure manager Nigel Melzner coordinating the building work.